Archive

  • Police job proves a fair cop for OBE

    AN AWARD winning East Lancashire woman has been re-appointed to Greater Manchester Police board. Gloria Oates OBE, who lives in Ramsbottom, has been reappointed to the Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA), the governing body for Greater Manchester

  • David edges it in Sheriff awards

    A POLICE support officer has picked up an award for devising a scheme to stop joy-riders pushing cars over the edge of a hillside in Burnley. Burnley PCSO David Johnson collected the Shrievalty Rose Bowl from the High Sheriff of Lancashire, Peter Robinson

  • Mountain climb for disabled boy

    AN UNCLE is to scale one of the world's highest mountains to raise money for his severely disabled nephew. Dave Bateson is attempting to raise £4,500 by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, the largest free-standing mountain. The money will buy a wheelchair

  • Battle to save Baxi jobs 'futile' - union

    UNION bosses have admitted that attempts to keep the jobs at a factory earmarked for closure are futile'. Baxi Heating UK's announcement to close its Padiham plant and move production to Preston could lead to 450 job losses. Factory bosses last week

  • £14.8m makeovers for schools

    HUNDREDS of pupils are to benefit from a multi-million pound makeover of primary schools and children's centres. Education chiefs have unveiled the revamps as part a £14.8million refurbishment and rebuilding programme in school buildings and other facilities

  • Rally folk ready to roll across Britain

    CLASSIC car enthusiasts are taking part in a 1,700-mile rally over Easter to raise money for charity. The group from The Borough pub, Darwen, are doing a round trip to Land's End, then up to John O'Groats and finally back to Darwen. And all cars must

  • Green award for eco youngsters

    A SCHOOL has been heralded for its efforts at "going green". Students and teachers from Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School's (BRGS) Eco-School Group have won a special commendation for their environmentally-friendly exploits. The group travelled

  • Man gets life for stabbing wife to death

    A MAN has been jailed for life for brutally murdering his estranged wife - although nobody will ever know what sparked the fatal row. But "wicked" killer Zameer Ahmed, 27, was forgiven by his victim's devastated parents the day he murdered their daughter

  • Jeffers set to rejoin Tractor Boys

    Blackburn Rovers striker Francis Jeffers could rejoin Ipswich for the rest of the season after making a quicker-than-expected recovery from injury. The ex-England international's month-long loan spell with Town was cut short after he sustained a hamstring

  • Job loss fear for attack victim

    A MAN attacked by burglars in his own home may have to give up his job due to his injuries. John Lewis, 64, was punched twice in the eye during the raid at Cheltenham Road, Blackburn, earlier this month. Eye surgeons have told him that the lens in his

  • Snooker legend helps raise hundreds

    A FUNDRAISING evening in aid of a woman who has been left blind and partially paralysed raised hundreds of pounds. Steve Davis helped raise money for the Burnley woman last Thursday at Padiham Snooker Club. People at the club got the chance to play

  • Clarets should follow Stanley's example

    THERE are certain phrases that keep cropping up when you're in a relegation scrap. "Must-win game" is one of them. "Six-pointer" is another. The Clarets are not yet at the stage where only a win will do, but victory over Luton Town on Saturday will do

  • Mini mayor opens playground at her own school

    THE Mini Mayor of Rossendale joined Rossendale's first citizen, Coun Peter Steen, to open a new playground at Sharneyford Primary School. Katie Smith, 11, who attends the Bacup primary school, pulled a red ribbon to officially open the school's new

  • School till 18? Who is going to pay for it?

    At 18, I was working, and doing a bit of courting, paying my way at home and learning the fact that if you wanted something, you damn well had to work for it. Our family motto was, and still is 'Only those who work, eat.' Now I read that the school

  • Harley: It's crunch time for Clarets

    DETERMINED Jon Harley has targeted back-to-back wins to lift Burnley out of the doldrums. The Clarets have endured a frustrating wait to end their run of 18 games without a win due to a fortnight's break for internationals. But they face two games in

  • School's 'moving in right direction'

    Pupils at St Silas CE Primary School, Blackburn, look delighted with their report after a recent inspection. And headteacher Hillary Healey, who is pictured with the youngsters, said she was pleased after inspectors branded the school's teaching "satisfactory

  • Pupils switched on as radio takes to air

    A Burnley school will be making waves this week after launching what is believed to be the country's biggest school radio station. Hameldon Community College is transmitting its radio station IBFM across the borough, starting today. For three days 24

  • What a political week

    THAT was indeed the week that was. The budget in which Gordon Brown sprung his rhetorical trick at the end and a 2p cut in tax that turned out to be no such thing. Just a modest change to take some money from some poorer people to give it to some better

  • Drugs den sealed with steel

    A DRUGS den has been barricaded with steel to keep out users and under-age drinkers. The hideout is a former outbuilding for the coal mine in Bank Hall Park, Burnley. Police tried to seal the den with bricks, but the yobs kicked through to get back

  • How officers tracked prime suspect

    POLICE embarked on an "old fashioned manhunt" when their prime suspect for Nazia Ahmed's murder disappeared. Accountancy graduate Nazia died in hospital 90 minutes after she was stabbed at her home in Shear Bank Road, Blackburn. But police knew who

  • New school opens for bullied children

    A CHARITY is to open a school in East Lancashire for bullied children whose parents have withdrawn them from mainstream education. The Red Balloon's Burnley site will be the charity's first base in the north of England. Fourteen places will be made

  • Youngster vows to 'sort himself out'

    Blackburn Rovers youngster Bryan Hodge has vowed to knuckle down and concentrate on trying to make a career for himself in the professional game following a rollicking from manager Mark Hughes. The midfielder is determined to get his life back on track

  • Councils merger knocked back

    BURNLEY and Pendle councils' bid to merge has failed. The government made the annoucement this morning after considering proposals from councils across the country to form unitary authorities that run all services in the area they cover. Burnley

  • Plea to diesel users to clean up their act

    DIESEL vehicle owners are being urged to fill up their engines with a more environmentally-friendly fuel. Coun Sonia Robinson said that bio-diesel could be put into any up-to-date diesel vehicle. She said Eco Bio Diesel Ltd, Billington Road, Burnley

  • Time for Bentley call-up

    It's good to know that whatever happens against Chelski in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at Old Trafford, two Rovers players have already graced the new Wembley. Congratulations to David Bentley who will go down in history as the first Englishman to

  • Clarets shop sale

    Burnley season ticket holders will be able to get kitted out for bargain prices, with Saturday's special sale in the Clarets Superstore of up to 50 per cent. This special shirt promotion is available to season ticket holders only for this weekend's

  • Loye: We must win the title

    MAL Loye admits his Old Trafford team-mates are burdened by the expectation of landing Lancashire an elusive County Championship title. The Red Rose county are chasing their first outright Championship since 1934, after finishing a narrow second to Sussex

  • 'Stop death sentences'

    A MAN spared from death with the help of former Nelson solicitor Sajjad Karim has backed the MEP's fight to abolish the death penalty. Mirza Tahir Hussain has signed Mr Karim's petition demanding a worldwide ban on death penalties. Hussain was on death

  • Hunt for Aussie soldier's family

    DESCENDANTS of an Australian soldier who died in Darwen shortly after the First World War are being sought by the Royal British Legion. The Darwen branch of has long been intrigued by the story of Ernest Ward and after getting new information on him

  • Rossendale United 'won't go under'

    ANDREW Connolly's dream of making Rossendale United a force in non-league football has turned sour - but he insists the crisis-hit club will not go out of business. The ambitious Stags owner has ploughed in £400,000 of his own money into the Dark Lane

  • Driver tried to lure boy into car

    PARENTS have been urged to keep an eye on their children after a man tried to lure an 11-year-old boy into his car. The boy was in Halifax Road, Nelson, at 9.15pm when a car followed him. Soon afterwards, the driver stopped and asked him to get in the

  • Work to tackle car park flooding

    A CAR park blighted by poor drainage is to get a £95,000 makeover to stop it flooding during bad weather. The Holgate Street car park in Great Harwood has suffered as a result of blockages caused by run off from the planted areas next to it. Half the

  • Rocking vicar releases single

    Rocking reverend Philip Chew and his band Revisit are releasing their debut single We're Under Attack. The band, all in their 40s, formed six months ago and have a similar sound to The Smiths and U2. Rev Chew is the vicar of St Stephen's CofE Church

  • Rocking vicar may risk arrest in base protest

    A Burnley vicar who sings in a band may risk arrest today when he plays a protest gig at an American military base. Rocking reverend Philip Chew, vicar of St Stephen's CofE Church, Oxford Road, Burnley, and his rock band Revisit were today playing a

  • In God we trust at Stanley

    "CAN we play you every week" is surely the fans' favourite end-of-match terrace song to their opposing number, and the song rang out around the Fraser Eagle Stadium on Saturday as the Hereford team were sent home soundly beaten. John Coleman said in

  • Legal aid just aids the lawyers

    LAWYERS demonstrating outside Parliament about legal aid reforms indicates the Government has got it right. Legal aid is a rotten title. A better one would be representation on the never never or Legal Hire Purchase. You lay out your dosh and if you're

  • Pray for safety of Karim family

    I MUST express my disappointment at the rejection of the judicial review for the Karim family (LT, March 21). The situation is one of total hypocrisy from the Home Office who, by their relentless actions in this matter, have defied their own objectives

  • Post Office has let public down

    I WONDER if any Telegraph readers could enlighten me on the strategy of the Post Office in Blackburn. First of all the Post Office closes branch offices all over the town, forcing hundreds of people, lots of them elderly and/or disabled, to make the

  • Rovers should think about pensioners

    BLACKBURN Rovers deserve all the plaudits and praise for their initiative in reducing the cost of season tickets. But what about the poor old pensioners who sit in the Jack Walker lower central stand? Their tickets have risen even by my ancient arithmetic

  • Mosque plans amended

    CONTROVERSIAL plans for a mosque have been amended to fit the area better. Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning committee approved the changes for a mosque off Audley Range. The building's orientation will now run parallel to Audley Range, instead

  • Nelsen set to face United

    BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes is hopeful his defensive rock Ryan Nelsen WILL be fit to face Wayne Rooney and Manchester United this weekend. The Kiwi defender has been troubled by a niggling hamstring problem since the 2-0 FA Cup quarter final win over

  • Players to blame for England fiasco

    ENGLAND manager Steve McClaren woke this morning to ferocious headlines. 'Mad Mac', 'Deluded' and 'What the hell is going on?' were some of the kinder banners screaming across the back pages of national newspapers. The vultures are well and truly circling

  • Mahmood inspired by Pietersen

    Sajid Mahmood believes England will be inspired by Kevin Pietersen's coronation as the world's top one-day batsman. The 26-year-old Hampshire batsman, who only made his one-day international debut three years ago, becomes only the third England player

  • How to get your FA Cup tickets

    TICKETS for Blackburn Rovers' eagerly-awaited FA Cup semi-final showdown with Chelsea at Old Trafford are due to go on sale later this week. The Club have been given an allocation of 30,881 tickets for the tie, and they are due to arrive from the FA

  • Coleman: Spirit will see us through

    JOHN Coleman hailed the team spirit within his Accrington Stanley camp as one of the key contributing factors in them winning the Nationwide Conference title and promotion back to the Football League last season. This season, he is confident it will

  • Supermarket evacuated

    Customers and staff were evacuated from Asda Accrington after a man deliberately set off a fire alarm. A man was caught on CCTV in the store's car park before entering the premises where he set off the alarm by smashing the glass on an alarm sensor

  • Footballer’s leg snaps during match

    AN amateur footballer is recovering in hospital after suffering a sickening leg break at the weekend. Team mates of Darren Jackson looked on in horror as his left leg buckled during a Sunday league game at Memorial Park in Great Harwood. Darren, 33,

  • Cannabis gang is jailed for 17 years

    THREE men have been jailed for a total of more than 17 years after an undercover police operation unearthed a cannabis farm at a Blackburn warehouse. The investigation, codenamed Operation Hornbeam, also uncovered the sale of other drugs in East Lancashire

  • Record breakers!

    BLACKBURN Drama Club has notched up record ticket sales for its recent production of Fur Coat and No Knickers. The production, which appeared at Thwaites Empire Theatre from March 7 to 10, attracted more than 1,000 people - the highest number recorded

  • Colne missing six for Maine trip

    COLNE could be without six players for tonight's away match at Maine Road. The Reds, who are coming off a weekend win against Atherton Collieries, have fitness concerns over goalkeeper Mark Crossley, who is a doubt with a hamstring injury, while Jason

  • Sculpher aiming for half target

    RAMSBOTTOM manager Lee Sculpher has set his side the target of winning at least half of their remaining fixtures. The Rams travel to Squires Gate in North West Counties League One tonight with Matt Holdsworth (shin) their only injury worry. "We have

  • Mullen wants more of same

    DARWEN boss Steve Mullen is hoping his side continue their good form as they host Oldham Town in Division Two. On Saturday, Darwen put in a fine performance during their 2-2 draw against high-flying Winsford. "We have got to try and keep those performances

  • Thoroughly Modern Millie @ QEGS, Blackburn

    ThIs production of Richard Morris's musical proved a real triumph for youth. With an average age of just 15, the cast of actors, singers and dancers delivered a confident and engaging performance that was a tribute to director Regina Arkwright's skills

  • Storm over ice rink 'collect' fee

    PARENTS have slammed Blackburn Ice Arena for charging them to pick up their own children. Bosses at the popular venue are now demanding that mums and dads pay the £1.25 fee just to collect their children after lessons. They insist that the admission

  • Trip back in time for pupils

    A TASTE of a Victorian classroom left youngsters at a Whalley school happy to return to 21st century lessons. Year 1 pupils at Oakhill College have been learning about the era and visited Wigan Pier to experience the 1800s first hand. As well as a taking

  • Opera singer Fred dies, aged 78

    TRIBUTES have been paid to an amateur light opera singer who died suddenly at his Oswaldtwistle home. Former Accrington Grammar School pupil Fred Tregartha, 78, trained as an industrial chemist before national service with the RAF took him to East Anglia