Blackburn Hawks are agonisingly close to clinching a place in the English Cup semi-finals for the first time ever. The ice hockey stars need just one point from their two remaining cup games, both this weekend, to reach the last four. Sheffield Spartans
A FANS' website dedicated to raising money for Burnley's youth system is set to launch a new campaign. The Clarets Mad Year of the Youth Campaign' will be formally unveiled on Thursday 16th March, at the Bridge Bier Huis in Burnley (8pm). Burnley Football
MICHAEL Ricketts could end up costing Leeds United nearly £2million this season - despite playing for Burnley! The former England striker originally joined Leeds in July 2004 in what former club Middlesbrough announced as a free transfer. Ricketts has
SPURS skipper Ledley King believes Rovers present a significant threat to his side's ambitions tomorrow. The Tottenham man believes Rovers have come a long way this season under Mark Hughes and his team have steered a course into fifth place in the Premiership
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes has described tomorrow's crunch game with Tottenham Hotspur as possibly the biggest of his 18-month Ewood reign. If Rovers were to win at White Hart Lane, they would go level on points with the fourth-placed Londoners in the
BRAD Friedel today spelled out the reasons why it's absolutely imperative Blackburn Rovers get Mark Hughes tied up on a new long-term contract as soon as possible. Hughes has overseen a stunning transformation at Ewood Park, turning Rovers from relegation
BURNLEY chairman Barry Kilby has thrown his weight behind plans to revolutionise the play-off system this summer. Under the new proposals, passed at a quarterly meeting of all Football League chairmen on Thursday, the Clarets would have a better chance
MARK Hughes today indicated he's ready to put pen to paper on a lucrative new contract with Blackburn Rovers. Rovers have already started preliminary talks with Hughes about extending his existing deal beyond the end of next season. And the fiercely
POLICE in Ross-endale have teamed up with a martial arts expert in a bid to kick out anti-social behaviour problems. They have secured £500 from the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC) and the Rank Charitable Foundation to fund kick-boxing
A HASLINGDEN man who attacked his ex-partner's friend was said to have hit her three times and headbutted her. Burnley magistrates heard Jason Pilling, 26, had been in the pub getting Dutch courage' to go round and see his former girlfriend. When he
A 65-year-old assault victim was intensive care today after being found unconscious in a hotel room. The man was discovered with head and facial injuries at 6.20pm on Thursday in a ground floor room of the Devonshire Hotel, Bridge Street, near the Boulevard
USERS of Blackburn's Waves water centre have reacted furiously to Tory councillors' pledge to shut the complex if they seize power in May's elections. Residents who use the swimming pool and gym said the town centre site played a vital part in keeping
PROFESSOR John Ashton, North West Regional Director of Public Health, is urging pubs and clubs across the region to stamp out the smoking habit now and not wait until the new smoke-free legislation comes into effect in 18 months time. "Passive smoking
RESIDENTS in Altham, Clayton-le-Moors and Huncoat are re-launching a campaign to take lorries off their roads. They have complained for years about trucks using unsuitable roads such as Bolton Avenue, Whalley Road and Enfield Road to get to Whinney Hill
FOUR-letter words and vicars don't usually go together. Sounds like we're saints but a dog collar is a halo that's slipped. Anyway, I do hope you'll appreciate that my upcoming four-letter noun is not me driving through our cherished customs without
I READ with dismay the story (February 27) about the attempted abduction of a 13-year-old girl, by three men. I am disgusted at the decision of the police not to prosecute someone if it's only a joke.' On the basis of this, every shoplifter, burglar
I HAVE just received a copy of the Liberal Democrats Focus' newsletter for Sudell ward, Darwen. In it, Lib Dem councillors for the area, Paul Browne and Roy Davies, explain their reasons for voting against an extension to Bespoke Carpenters Shop, Olive
WHILE entering a shop I witnessed what by present day standards was a pleasing sight. A disabled man was finding it difficult to open the door and suddenly a youth rushed from the crowd to assist him. Trivial you may say, but this is the nub of a present
REGARDING the article (LET, February 25) about the increase in heavy goods vehicles finding alternate routes to Blackburn, Darwen and the M65 since the ban on lorries over 7.5 tonnes using the Grane Road came into force. As a Guide resident I can confirm
A MAN has been convicted of carrying out an attack in Blackburn town centre, that left a teenager badly hurt. David Young claimed that he had acted in self defence when he struck out with a punch. But a jury convicted him of a charge of inflicting grievous
BOSSES at Accrington Stanley have pledged to improve relations with local residents as they bid for a place in the Football League. People living in neighbouring Livingstone Road accused the club of "making their lives a misery" last month by hosting
A WOMAN on a night out with her soldier husband suffered a broken nose after being attacked by a gang of women, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that Julie Perry admitted punching Haley Wallbank to the floor and then kicking her in the head
A DARWEN Indian restaurant is in the finals of a Parliamentary competition to find the best curry house in Britain. Sukhi's in Blackburn Road has been nominated for the Tiffin Award by MP Janet Anderson. And she hopes her favourite Indian restaurant
MEDICS today hit out after a drunken man who punched a nurse while she was treating him avoided an immediate prison sentence. Blackburn magistrates suspended a jail term on Stephen Booth, despite hearing that the attack on someone doing her best to help
A CONTRACT to operate crime-fighting spy cameras that overlook dozens of Ribble Valley streets has been renewed despite concerns over the company that runs the scheme. Ribble Valley councillors this week agreed to extend a contract with Norfolk-based
RIBBLE Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans has branded the report clearing Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell of breaking the Ministerial Code of Conduct as "a whitewash". The member of the Commons Committee shadowing her department was reacting to Cabinet Secretary
Residents are being urged not to fall victim to a conman who calls at homes asking to borrow money. Police said they had received numerous reports of the conman targeting the homes of elderly people in Preston New Road, Blackburn. Det Sgt Paul Ryan,
THE family of a former Blackburn firefighter who died in a car accident have spoken of their sadness at his sudden death. Police officers said Terrence Revill, known as Terry, died when his car crashed on the A59 near Clitheroe on Sunday. Today it was
POLICE will spend years wearing out-of-date uniforms and driving cars with out-of-date badges when the Lancashire force merges with Cumbria, it was revealed today. Officer representatives and MPs today attacked the decision, claiming it would prevent
A VAN driver involved in a fatal accident in which a motorcyclist died has been haunted by what happened, a court has heard. Blackburn magistrates were told that Carl Andrew Booth "simply failed to see" the bike as he pulled out of Chapel Lane across
A schizophrenic who attacked two police officers after a bad night out is awaiting sentence by Burnley Magistrates. The court heard angry Martin McAlpine, 28, left a policewoman with a bruised and swollen eye and nose and she had to go to hospital. Her
ROSSENDALE MP Janet Anderson today hit out at government confusion after being wrongly told plans for a controversial windfarm had been blocked. The Labour politician yesterday spoke of her delight after being told environment secretary Margaret Beckett
A WEBSITE has been set up in a bid to push for changes in the law after the hit-and-run driver who killed Burnley tot Levi Bleasdale was given a 12-week jail sentence. The family of the tot have backed the move for a new Road Safety Bill in the hope
Redundancies will not be made in a business deal that has seen five East Lancashire Kwik Save stores sold. The stores have been sold by Somerfield to new Huddersfield-based firm Back To The Future (BTTF). In total, 171 stores have been sold to BTTF,
BUILDING work on a £50million shopping complex in Burnley could start in summer next year. Developers Henry Boot have drawn up outline plans for the scheme, which will go before councillors next month. A public consultation will also be held on the
ROSSENDALE'S MP Janet Anderson has told health chiefs she wants to see a birthing unit in the Valley. The move could see babies being born in Rossendale again following the closure of the maternity unit at Rossendale General Hospital in 1986. In recent
A DELEGATION of Mexican education chiefs visited a Rossendale school to learn lessons from their British counterparts. A group of five Mexican teachers dropped in at St Nicholas' CE Primary School in Newchurch as part of a trip organised by the British
BURNLEY could soon have its own community radio station with the launch of a new project at the town's youth theatre. Burnley Community Radio is an initiative set up by the Burnley Community Network a group of 260 organisations throughout Burnley and
A company secretary who got behind the wheel while more than three times the drink-drive limit has been spared a prison sentence. Deborah Anne Forrest, 35 had been stressed after a minor operation where she cheated death, Burnley magistrates heard.
GREEN campaigners in Pendle have welcomed the designation of two more Local Nature Reserves in the borough. Alkincoats Woodland and Greenfield, both in Colne, have been approved by Pendle councillors and English Nature to become Local Nature Reserves
The DRIVER of a car "abandoned" in the middle of the road in the early hours had fixated eyes and answered all police questions with his name. Burnley Magistrates heard how Jason Stuart Cawtherley, 36, gave a negative breath test but blood tests later
A FORMER lollipop lady who keeps getting in trouble after the breakdown of her marriage is behind bars. Burnley magistrates heard how Wendy Sims, 34, had gone into the town's police station with a rucksack asking to be locked up. They wouldn't oblige
A NELSON home is harbouring a major tourist attraction in the form of a fish! The albino Oscar fish originally from Singapore was bought for just £10 by Naz Raja, 29, and his brother Kazim Khan, 31, after discovering distinctive markings on the scales
A 17-YEAR-OLD Burnley boy was left with a suspected fractured skull after a fracas in the town centre. Police said the victim had spent the night at a friend's 18th birthday celebration in a town centre nightclub before the incident at about 12.45am
RUTHLESS Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has warned his players to show no mercy in their quest for the Conference title. The Reds travel to second-bottom Crawley Town tomorrow for the first of a run of three away games. Crawley are fighting
DAVID Bentley is ready to fill the void left by Morten Gamst Pedersen following his star turn for England's Under 21 side earlier this week. A hamstring injury sustained in last week's victory against Arsenal will prevent Pedersen from lining up for
DAVID Dunn coming back to Blackburn Rovers might just be newspaper gossip at this stage. But come the summer I think he would jump at the chance of returning to Ewood. And I, like all Rovers followers, would be delighted to see him in the blue and white
FOGGY PETRONAS Racing riders Steve Martin and Craig Jones have an immediate chance to bounce back from the disappointments of the opening round of the Superbike World Championship when the early season action continues at the Australian circuit of Phillip
JIMMY Hinksman is backing Accrington Stanley to go all the way in their quest to make an historical return to the Football League. Hinksman was the man appointed to lead the Reds' revival when the team reformed in 1968 - six years after the club was
Burnley are sweating on the fitness of midfielders Garreth O'Connor (ankle ligaments) and Graham Branch (hamstring) for the Turf Moor clash with Reading, who have lost just two league games all season. Their combined absence could open up a left-sided
GIFTON Noel-Williams is desperate to add to his "disappointing" two-goal haul and end the season on a high. The striker admits he has no excuses for not finding the net since August, despite finding himself playing second fiddle to Ade Akinbiyi for much
Blackburn Rovers have played down reports suggesting the Walker family want to sever all ties with the club. Rovers indicated last summer that Jack Walker's trustees - the people in ultimate control of the club - were actively seeking new investment.
BLACKBURN Rovers have opened talks with Mark Hughes over a lucrative new contract. The Welshman has performed a minor miracle in transforming Rovers from relegation candidates to Champions League contenders in the 18 months since he succeeded Graeme
MORE than 1,500 motorists have been stopped by police in Rossendale as part of an operation to halt travelling crooks in their tracks. The operation, launched last week, has involved police stop checks at key points across the Valley, as well as increased
AN arson victim who watched his business of 35 years burn to the ground has reopened just months after the blaze. John Allen has ploughed more than £20,000 of his own money, which he had saved for his retirement, into the new venture while he awaits
A 20-YEAR-OLD man who got involved in a fight during a night out in Blackburn later vented his frustration on parked cars and battered one so much that it had to be written-off. Blackburn magistrates heard that Michael Pice Maughan punched and kicked
HYNDBURN Council bosses have performed a U-turn over plans to bring private investors in to run Accrington's historic market. Council leader Peter Britcliffe has announced that the building will remain in council hands and promised up to three-quarters
NOT enough people from ethnic minorities work in community-based NHS services in Blackburn with Darwen, an NHS boss said today. Paul Hinnigan, acting chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen NHS Primary Care Trust, said more staff should be recruited
NEW laws on postal voting have been proposed in a bid to prevent fraudsters following in the footstep of a disgraced East Lancashire councillor. We look at whether the Electoral Administration Bill goes far enough. WITH today's technology you would expect
There are many problems in the world but some of them just don't have any answers. I admit it after 32 years they have got me. We need rules and we need them now. Either we take our shoes off or we leave them on. Which is it? I am not a mind reader
THE Bouly Gang used to be a gang named after Blackburn's Boulevard. Thirty seven years ago I used to hang around the Boulevard to meet girls, get a quick pint and have fun. I bet it has changed heaps since then. I was there in 1977, still have fond
PEOPLE from Blackburn always moan about parking charges in the town centre. If one travels to other places like I do, you will see that similar places like Blackburn e.g. Preston, Blackpool, Bolton and Manchester have parking charges that are a lot higher
THE letter (LET, February 21) Council must tackle vermin' made my blood boil. As a postman who has worked in Blackburn and Darwen for the past two years I have travelled all over the towns. I think it is about time that people took responsibility for
AT a time when supply exceeds demand in teacher recruitment, especially in primary schools, resulting in unemployment among both newly qualified and experienced teachers, it would seem incongruous and inequitable that "retired" teachers, namely those
STAFF at one of Darwen's biggest employers have been warned the company plans to shed 125 jobs nationwide. Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings plans to lose jobs at Hull, Warrington, St Ives and Darwen. It is unclear how many staff in East Lancashire will
THUGS threw a brick through the window of MP Janet Anderson's Darwen home. It is the third act of vandalism at her Sunnyhurst house and she now wants police to increase efforts to tackle gangs of young vandals roaming the area. Previously Mrs Anderson
PLANS to upgrade Accrington's ageing CCTV network have received a boost after an additional £64,000 funding was announced for the project. Hyndburn Council has already said £250,000 will be invested in the scheme, which has helped to secure more than
HOSPITAL bosses have stepped up security after BNP activists left leaflets showing the controversial cartoon of the prophet Muhammad on vehicles in their car parks. The BNP has already been criticised this week by MPs and the Lancashire Council of Mosques
A 42-YEAR-OLD man banned from buying butane gas under the terms of an anti-social behaviour order was seen by police purchasing lighter fuel in Morrisons. Romesh Hira later told police he was going to use one of the canisters to fill his lighter and
WORK is due to begin next week on a £15,000 project to regenerate woodland in Huncoat. Hyndburn environment group the Prospects Foundation is working to increase the size of Spout House Woods by adding 3,000 trees. Mike Stapleford from Prospects said
A PROPOSED work of art planned for a Ribble Valley village has been likened to the Berlin Wall by residents determined to stop it from happening. Mid Pennine Arts wants one of its six landmark Panopticon sculptures to be built on ground owned by Castle
A DISPUTED scheme to change a Ribble Valley village's main car park into pay and display has been given the go ahead by council bosses. Last year Sabden village car park was identified by the council as suitable for a charging scheme, and initially the
TORY councillors have called for Blackburn's Waves water centre to be closed and vowed to sell it to developers if they win May's election. They said Blackburn with Darwen Council would be better off providing space for one of the many large stores
CLITHEROE Physiotherapy Centre has been given a £30,000 boost by health and charity bosses. New flooring and central heating has been installed at the New Market Street centre, thanks to £20,000 from Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Primary Care Trust,
CLITHEROE firm Castle Cement has been given permission to burn animal products at its Ribblesdale site. Following a six-month trial, which took place from April to October 2005, the Environment Agency has now given the firm permission to carry on burning
POM pom-potty Matthew Chadwick has proved he is man enough to take on an unusual pastime for his GCSEs cheerleading! The 14-year-old is part of a group of performing arts students who will be dancing in front of thousands of spectators, and a live Sky
POLICE have moved to allay fears that terrorists were targeting BAE plants in Lancashire. A national newspaper reported that an Arabic book and bolt cutters had been found near BAE Systems, Warton. The paper claimed that terrorists were believed to
A COMMUNITY was in shock today after a popular Clitheroe businessman died suddenly in his sleep. Garage owner and father-of-two Ian Capstick, 47, was discovered by his young son at his home in Townfield Avenue, Brownside, Burnley, at shortly after 7am
Pub chain JD Wetherspoons today scrapped plans to ban smoking in its pubs this year. The group, which runs the Postal Order in Darwen Street, Blackburn, and the Brun Lea in Manchester Road, Burnley, said it was putting off the ban until 2007. Announcing
Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was forced to pull out of a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni yesterday because of the virus infection. He said: "I have got a virus and a high temperature and I've spent the last 24 hours
POLICE have been branded bonkers' for calling in officers from 15 miles away to deal with crime at a train station which has its own cop shop.' The situation at Blackburn railway station was highlighted after a rise in crime in and around a subway leading
ALL bets are off. Reading roll up at Turf Moor tomorrow as odds-on favourites for victory. It would take a brave man to back the Clarets to inflict only a third defeat of the season on Steve Coppell's side. But I would be prepared to wager a few pounds
There are many problems in the world but some of them just don't have any answers. I admit it after 32 years they have got me. We need rules and we need them now. Either we take our shoes off or we leave them on. Which is it? I am not a mind reader. We
IT'S true that as it reaches its 20th birthday, Blackburn's Waves water centre is beginning to show its age. The annual cost of keeping the building up to scratch will also grow and private sports centres opening across East Lancashire are competing for
THE letter (LET, February 21) Council must tackle vermin' made my blood boil. As a postman who has worked in Blackburn and Darwen for the past two years I have travelled all over the towns. I think it is about time that people took responsibility for
A 17-YEAR-OLD Burnley boy was left with a suspected fractured skull after a fracas in the town centre. Police said the victim had spent the night at a friend's 18th birthday celebration in a town centre nightclub before the incident at about 12.45am in
BLACKBURN Rovers have opened talks with Mark Hughes over a lucrative new contract. The Welshman has performed a minor miracle in transforming Rovers from relegation candidates to Champions League contenders in the 18 months since he succeeded Graeme Souness
DAVID Bentley is ready to fill the void left by Morten Gamst Pedersen following his star turn for England's Under 21 side earlier this week. A hamstring injury sustained in last week's victory against Arsenal will prevent Pedersen from lining up for Blackburn
BURNLEY could soon have its own community radio station with the launch of a new project at the town's youth theatre. Burnley Community Radio is an initiative set up by the Burnley Community Network a group of 260 organisations throughout Burnley and
A 17-YEAR-OLD Burnley boy was left with a suspected fractured skull after a fracas in the town centre. Police said the victim had spent the night at a friend's 18th birthday celebration in a town centre nightclub before the incident at about 12.45am in
The DRIVER of a car "abandoned" in the middle of the road in the early hours had fixated eyes and answered all police questions with his name. Burnley Magistrates heard how Jason Stuart Cawtherley, 36, gave a negative breath test but blood tests later
A schizophrenic who attacked two police officers after a bad night out is awaiting sentence by Burnley Magistrates. The court heard angry Martin McAlpine, 28, left a policewoman with a bruised and swollen eye and nose and she had to go to hospital. Her
A WEBSITE has been set up in a bid to push for changes in the law after the hit-and-run driver who killed Burnley tot Levi Bleasdale was given a 12-week jail sentence. The family of the tot have backed the move for a new Road Safety Bill in the hope that
A NELSON home is harbouring a major tourist attraction in the form of a fish! The albino Oscar fish originally from Singapore was bought for just £10 by Naz Raja, 29, and his brother Kazim Khan, 31, after discovering distinctive markings on the scales
GREEN campaigners in Pendle have welcomed the designation of two more Local Nature Reserves in the borough. Alkincoats Woodland and Greenfield, both in Colne, have been approved by Pendle councillors and English Nature to become Local Nature Reserves.
A company secretary who got behind the wheel while more than three times the drink-drive limit has been spared a prison sentence. Deborah Anne Forrest, 35 had been stressed after a minor operation where she cheated death, Burnley magistrates heard. She
WORK is due to begin next week on a £15,000 project to regenerate woodland in Huncoat. Hyndburn environment group the Prospects Foundation is working to increase the size of Spout House Woods by adding 3,000 trees. Mike Stapleford from Prospects said:
A 20-YEAR-OLD man who got involved in a fight during a night out in Blackburn later vented his frustration on parked cars and battered one so much that it had to be written-off. Blackburn magistrates heard that Michael Pice Maughan punched and kicked
AN arson victim who watched his business of 35 years burn to the ground has reopened just months after the blaze. John Allen has ploughed more than £20,000 of his own money, which he had saved for his retirement, into the new venture while he awaits an
HYNDBURN Council bosses have performed a U-turn over plans to bring private investors in to run Accrington's historic market. Council leader Peter Britcliffe has announced that the building will remain in council hands and promised up to three-quarters
POM pom-potty Matthew Chadwick has proved he is man enough to take on an unusual pastime for his GCSEs cheerleading! The 14-year-old is part of a group of performing arts students who will be dancing in front of thousands of spectators, and a live Sky
A PROPOSED work of art planned for a Ribble Valley village has been likened to the Berlin Wall by residents determined to stop it from happening. Mid Pennine Arts wants one of its six landmark Panopticon sculptures to be built on ground owned by Castle
GIFTON Noel-Williams is desperate to add to his "disappointing" two-goal haul and end the season on a high. The striker admits he has no excuses for not finding the net since August, despite finding himself playing second fiddle to Ade Akinbiyi for much
FOGGY PETRONAS Racing riders Steve Martin and Craig Jones have an immediate chance to bounce back from the disappointments of the opening round of the Superbike World Championship when the early season action continues at the Australian circuit of Phillip
Pub chain JD Wetherspoons today scrapped plans to ban smoking in its pubs this year. The group, which runs the Postal Order in Darwen Street, Blackburn, and the Brun Lea in Manchester Road, Burnley, said it was putting off the ban until 2007. Announcing
POLICE have moved to allay fears that terrorists were targeting BAE plants in Lancashire. A national newspaper reported that an Arabic book and bolt cutters had been found near BAE Systems, Warton. The paper claimed that terrorists were believed to be
STAFF at one of Darwen's biggest employers have been warned the company plans to shed 125 jobs nationwide. Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings plans to lose jobs at Hull, Warrington, St Ives and Darwen. It is unclear how many staff in East Lancashire will
ROSSENDALE MP Janet Anderson today hit out at government confusion after being wrongly told plans for a controversial windfarm had been blocked. The Labour politician yesterday spoke of her delight after being told environment secretary Margaret Beckett
NOT enough people from ethnic minorities work in community-based NHS services in Blackburn with Darwen, an NHS boss said today. Paul Hinnigan, acting chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen NHS Primary Care Trust, said more staff should be recruited
TORY councillors have called for Blackburn's Waves water centre to be closed and vowed to sell it to developers if they win May's election. They said Blackburn with Darwen Council would be better off providing space for one of the many large stores believed
POLICE have been branded bonkers' for calling in officers from 15 miles away to deal with crime at a train station which has its own cop shop.' The situation at Blackburn railway station was highlighted after a rise in crime in and around a subway leading
THE Bouly Gang used to be a gang named after Blackburn's Boulevard. Thirty seven years ago I used to hang around the Boulevard to meet girls, get a quick pint and have fun. I bet it has changed heaps since then. I was there in 1977, still have fond memories
PEOPLE from Blackburn always moan about parking charges in the town centre. If one travels to other places like I do, you will see that similar places like Blackburn e.g. Preston, Blackpool, Bolton and Manchester have parking charges that are a lot higher
AT a time when supply exceeds demand in teacher recruitment, especially in primary schools, resulting in unemployment among both newly qualified and experienced teachers, it would seem incongruous and inequitable that "retired" teachers, namely those
POLICE have been branded bonkers' for calling in officers from 15 miles away to deal with crime at a train station which has its own cop shop.' The situation at Blackburn railway station was highlighted after a rise in crime in and around a subway leading
Blackburn Rovers have played down reports suggesting the Walker family want to sever all ties with the club. Rovers indicated last summer that Jack Walker's trustees - the people in ultimate control of the club - were actively seeking new investment.
A FORMER lollipop lady who keeps getting in trouble after the breakdown of her marriage is behind bars. Burnley magistrates heard how Wendy Sims, 34, had gone into the town's police station with a rucksack asking to be locked up. They wouldn't oblige
BUILDING work on a £50million shopping complex in Burnley could start in summer next year. Developers Henry Boot have drawn up outline plans for the scheme, which will go before councillors next month. A public consultation will also be held on the plans
PLANS to upgrade Accrington's ageing CCTV network have received a boost after an additional £64,000 funding was announced for the project. Hyndburn Council has already said £250,000 will be invested in the scheme, which has helped to secure more than
CLITHEROE Physiotherapy Centre has been given a £30,000 boost by health and charity bosses. New flooring and central heating has been installed at the New Market Street centre, thanks to £20,000 from Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Primary Care Trust,
A DISPUTED scheme to change a Ribble Valley village's main car park into pay and display has been given the go ahead by council bosses. Last year Sabden village car park was identified by the council as suitable for a charging scheme, and initially the
A COMMUNITY was in shock today after a popular Clitheroe businessman died suddenly in his sleep. Garage owner and father-of-two Ian Capstick, 47, was discovered by his young son at his home in Townfield Avenue, Brownside, Burnley, at shortly after 7am
CLITHEROE firm Castle Cement has been given permission to burn animal products at its Ribblesdale site. Following a six-month trial, which took place from April to October 2005, the Environment Agency has now given the firm permission to carry on burning
Burnley are sweating on the fitness of midfielders Garreth O'Connor (ankle ligaments) and Graham Branch (hamstring) for the Turf Moor clash with Reading, who have lost just two league games all season. Their combined absence could open up a left-sided
DAVID Dunn coming back to Blackburn Rovers might just be newspaper gossip at this stage. But come the summer I think he would jump at the chance of returning to Ewood. And I, like all Rovers followers, would be delighted to see him in the blue and white
Up and coming Chorley band Elohymn celebrate the launch of their new EP with a free gig this week. After recently recording five tracks at London's Earth Terminal recording studios, the band returned to Chorley and have arranged the launch night for EP
Good Friday will be a special occasion for fans of American music legend, Gene Pitney, as the man behind hits like '24 Hours From Tulsa' plays Blackpool's Winter Gardens. Gene will be at the Opera House on Friday, April 14, as part of a 26 date UK tour
GIFTON Noel-Williams is desperate to add to his "disappointing" two-goal haul and end the season on a high. The striker admits he has no excuses for not finding the net since August, despite finding himself playing second fiddle to Ade Akinbiyi for much
BLACKBURN Rovers have opened talks with Mark Hughes over a lucrative new contract. The Welshman has performed a minor miracle in transforming Rovers from relegation candidates to Champions League contenders in the 18 months since he succeeded Graeme Souness
Redundancies will not be made in a business deal that has seen five East Lancashire Kwik Save stores sold. The stores have been sold by Somerfield to new Huddersfield-based firm Back To The Future (BTTF). In total, 171 stores have been sold to BTTF, including
CLITHEROE firm Castle Cement has been given permission to burn animal products at its Ribblesdale site. Following a six-month trial, which took place from April to October 2005, the Environment Agency has now given the firm permission to carry on burning
THUGS threw a brick through the window of MP Janet Anderson's Darwen home. It is the third act of vandalism at her Sunnyhurst house and she now wants police to increase efforts to tackle gangs of young vandals roaming the area. Previously Mrs Anderson
STAFF at one of Darwen's biggest employers have been warned the company plans to shed 125 jobs nationwide. Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings plans to lose jobs at Hull, Warrington, St Ives and Darwen. It is unclear how many staff in East Lancashire will
A DELEGATION of Mexican education chiefs visited a Rossendale school to learn lessons from their British counterparts. A group of five Mexican teachers dropped in at St Nicholas' CE Primary School in Newchurch as part of a trip organised by the British
MORE than 1,500 motorists have been stopped by police in Rossendale as part of an operation to halt travelling crooks in their tracks. The operation, launched last week, has involved police stop checks at key points across the Valley, as well as increased
ROSSENDALE'S MP Janet Anderson has told health chiefs she wants to see a birthing unit in the Valley. The move could see babies being born in Rossendale again following the closure of the maternity unit at Rossendale General Hospital in 1986. In recent
Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was forced to pull out of a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni yesterday because of the virus infection. He said: "I have got a virus and a high temperature and I've spent the last 24 hours asleep
A 42-YEAR-OLD man banned from buying butane gas under the terms of an anti-social behaviour order was seen by police purchasing lighter fuel in Morrisons. Romesh Hira later told police he was going to use one of the canisters to fill his lighter and inhale
A 20-YEAR-OLD man who got involved in a fight during a night out in Blackburn later vented his frustration on parked cars and battered one so much that it had to be written-off. Blackburn magistrates heard that Michael Pice Maughan punched and kicked
HOSPITAL bosses have stepped up security after BNP activists left leaflets showing the controversial cartoon of the prophet Muhammad on vehicles in their car parks. The BNP has already been criticised this week by MPs and the Lancashire Council of Mosques
FORMER Sex Pistol Glen Matlock will be bringing his current band The Philistines to Blackburn to headline a special Easter punk gig on March 21. Punk Feast 4 will be held at King George's Hall and will also feature the UK Subs, Goldblade, Red Light
Warning - Joycopter are playing in Accrington on April 15. They describe their musical tastes as eclectic and their own music as hectic. Considering the mix of genres they cover funk, rock, techno and rap, and a few they haven't invented yet you can
THE name may not be familiar but members of the Casbah Club, who play Blackburn on May 5, certainly will. For the band comprises Bruce Foxton, formerly bassist of The Jam and currently with Stiff Little Fingers; former Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki
You're bound to be all shook up by Billy J McGregor and his amazing 11-piece band. They pay tribute to Elvis Presley, on March 25 in Burnley. We put Billy's knowledge of The King to the test. Why is Elvis King? Elvis was unique He was the person
THE Full Monty is coming to Blackburn on March 12. The "ladies' night" including sexy male dancers is to be staged at Thwaites Empire Theatre. The night includes a Robbie Williams tribute act with singer Danny Lowry, followed by a display from male
Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt together are the Mighty Boosh, a comedy cult that is so hip it hurts. We ask them about fame, fortune and The Kaiser Chiefs ahead of their show in Blackburn on March 17. NOEL Fielding has been described as "a curiously
THE follow-up to multi-million debut album, Back To Bedlam. There's a live CD of James's Dublin concert, and the DVD features tracks filmed at the BBC alongside his music videos. There are also stripped-down, solo versions of songs from his album alongside
MIKE Peters and The Alarm have always had the uncanny knack of writing punky pop tunes which lodge in your brain after a single play. Peters' songwriting is given an added edge following a battle against leukaemia reflected in tracks such as Without
BEST known for having the most downloaded video of all time for the single A Million Ways, this slightly chaotic and quirky album from OK Go is a real grower. Lead singer Damian Kulash sounds like he's singing through a megaphone half the time but the
IN a market flooded with female singer-songwriters, Beth has always stood apart, thanks to her distinctive voice and "folktronica" sound. Comfort Of Strangers, her fourth album, was recorded in two weeks. It's a more stripped-back collection than 2003
THE search for the untried takeaway continues and this week led me into Haslingden, where I was faced with a dilemma three different kinds of takeaway, all next door to each other. Using the scientific method of picking the one on the corner which was
I'M not sure if you have noticed but something quite remarkable has been happening on BBC2 on Thursdays. Within the space of an hour, we had a programme which looked at architecture, the work of the artist Caraveggio, Welsh rap music and the forthcoming
