Archive

  • Police worker who received Shafiq call 'should be retrained'

    A POLICE operator should be retrained after a watchdog slammed her handling of a desperate phone call from murder victim Mohammed Shafiq, a councillor has said. Lancashire police bosses have admitted that the call handler, who has not been named, was

  • Motoring group's call echoes Wasted Lives aims

    THE influential Institute of Advanced Motorists has demanded that the Government introduce more steps to cut the number of young drivers killed on the roads. In a report to the roads minister Jim Fitzpatrick the group echoed calls made by the

  • Tribal Belly Dance

    Tribal Belly Dance classes are going to be held at St Veronica’s Church Hall in Helmshore. The new classes will be held on a Tuesday evening (8.30 – 9.15pm) after the beginners class (6.30-7.30pm) and improvers session (7.30 -8.15pm). Tribal dance is

  • Granny's Attic

    There’s a Granny’s Attic and Car Boot Sale at St Peter's Church on Saturday, 13th September from 9.30am to 1.00pm. Books, Toys & Games, Bric-a-Brac, Clothes and Kitchenware. Stalls £6 - Contact 01706 223351.

  • Scores on doors planned for Rossendale takeaways

    SUB-STANDARD takeaways and restaurants could be named and shamed as part of a ‘scores on the doors’ scheme. Rossendale Council will inspect all food premises in the valley, including cafes, takeaways and restaurants,and give them a hygiene rating as

  • Police alert over Hapton thefts

    POLICE fear green-fingered thieves are on the loose in Hapton – and have warned residents to be on the look-out. Officers in the village say a number of “unusual” thefts have been reported in the past few weeks. A four-wheeled plant

  • 'Feisty' woman, 87, fights off mugger

    A ‘FEISTY’ 87-year-old woman fought off a ‘cowardly’ robber who tried to steal her handbag in the street. Police said the pensioner began a “tug-of-war” with the yob in a bid to keep hold of her bag but she would not let go. Eventually he was scared

  • Children’s art goes on show

    A ONE-night exhibition displaying children’s paintings and drawings will be held after the Barrowford Show was cancelled. The exhibition, on Tuesday, September 16, offers children who entered the painting and drawing section of the cancelled show a chance

  • Text-threats man gets ban

    A BLACKBURN man has admitted sending threatening text messages to a woman after she told him she just wanted them to be friends. Preston Crown Court was told that Mohseen Valli, who had wanted a relationship with the woman, had also threatened to kill

  • Blackburn firm's bumper profits

    A CONFECTIONERY firm is looking healthy after posting bumper profits thanks to a range of nutritious snacks Glisten Plc, which produces a range of snack products, released strong preliminary results yesterday for the year ending June 30, 2008.

  • Bandit raider is jailed

    THREE strong arm “bandits” thought they had hit the jackpot when they removed a gaming machine from a working men’s club. But the payout for one of the trio was six months in prison when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates. Michael Mullin, 22,

  • Nobody ever said life was easy or fair

    TIGHTEN your belts, it looks like we’re in for a bumpy ride. We British are perhaps at our strongest with our backs against the wall, so maybe the feeling of community will emerge and fill us with that war-time spirit. I wonder shall we beat milk into

  • Pendle parks to be given new powers to stop yobs

    PARK keepers could be handed new powers to tackle teenage anti-social behaviour. A new bylaw will give police and Pendle Council the power to remove over 14s who are behaving ‘inappropriately’ from areas designated for under 14s in the borough’s parks

  • Hospital baby unit 'will be on time'

    HOSPITAL bosses have insisted Burnley’s £31million maternity unit will be delivered on time and on budget. Campaigners have voiced fears that a planned land-sale combined with the credit crunch would leave East Lancashire patients waiting for the flagship

  • Jimmt Bell: Accrington Stanley need more steel

    ACCRINGTON Stanley assistant boss Jimmy Bell insists the Reds must become “bad losers” after crashing to their third defeat in eight days. Stanley stumbled to a 2-1 League Two defeat at Exeter on Saturday. Jamie Clarke put the Reds ahead after 10 minutes

  • Hollywood artist to put the celeb into Whalley

    AN ARTIST who rubs shoulders with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars is coming to the Ribble Valley for an exclusive show of his work. American Todd White will be appearing at Art Decor, The Arches, Whalley, later this month as part of a whistle-stop

  • Hapton regeneration after county council backing

    COUNTY council bosses have been asked to support the regeneration of a sprawling former factory complex near the M65 which could generate 1,000 jobs. Economic development officials from Burnley Council are working closely with the new owners of the

  • Leisure centres cook up healthy menus

    NEW five-a-day menus have been introduced at Pendle’s leisure centres. Pendle Wavelengths, Pendle Leisure, Centre and West Craven Sports Centre have revamped their menus to offer vitamin rich snacks. Pendle Leisure Trust teamed up with Pendle Council

  • Accrington Stanley undone by Ex-Factor

    A trip to Exeter City is always likely to bring back good memories of the Conference winning season for Accrington Stanley, and their latest visit was no different. In 2006, the Reds ran out 3-1 winners at St James Park to increase their lead at the

  • Hostel row over crack user

    A MAN was ordered to leave a hostel for the homeless because he objected to sharing a room with a crack cocaine user. Blackburn magistrates heard that Jacob Booth’s room-mate was using in the room at Nightsafe on Bridge Street. But when

  • Litter scheme hope for village

    A COMMUNITY scheme to clean up Foulridge is hoping to get off the ground. Foulridge Parish Council is keen to set up a voluntary litter picking initiative, which gives villages their own section of land to care for. Coun Graham Cannon said: “Pendle

  • Theft was 'a cry for help'

    A 54-year-old woman tried to walk out of Asda with a trolley full of groceries she hadn’t paid for. Blackburn magistrates heard it was the second similar offence committed by Susan Proctor this year and John Dewhurst, defending, described it as a cry

  • NHS 60

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  • East Lancashire schools’ opening ‘historic moment’

    EDUCATION bosses have welcomed the opening of three new super schools this week as an ‘historic’ moment. And as students from Shuttleworth College, Padiham, and the Burnley Campus stepped into their classrooms this morning, bosses said the

  • Cowardly attack on pensioner at Blackburn bus-stop

    A 74-year-old woman fell to the floor when a robber grabbed her handbag as she waited for a bus. The woman was stood at the bus stop outside the Old Mother Redcap pub, Blackburn Road, Blackburn, at around 1pm on Saturday, when the robber struck

  • Controversial Blackburn councillors back in fold

    TWO controversial councillors have been readmitted to their party’s ranks on Blackburn with Darwen’s ruling group. Coun Arif Waghat, who was given an eight-week suspended sentence for a £3,000 benefit fraud, and Coun Yusuf Sidat, who left the

  • Swanney enjoys his double delight

    VETERAN batsman John Swanney had two reasons cheerful as Accrington and Great Harwood were crowned champions of their respective leagues. The 51-year-old played in the Accrington side the last time they lifted the Lancashire League title in

  • Councillors are behaving like kids

    IT’S laughable what’s going on between Blackburn with Darwen Council parties at the Town Hall, as each one is craving the power to be in control. They have more important things you should be doing and one of them is running the towns of Blackburn and

  • NHS trust must admit it got it wrong

    HARDLY a day goes by without some new revelation regarding the chaos caused by the reorganisation of hospital services in East Lancashire. Despite what some local MPs would have us believe, the accident and emergency department at Blackburn

  • No need for fluoride on tap

    FLUORIDATION of water is aimed at improving children’s dental health. However, all the population will be exposed to it and there is no control on amounts consumed or safety levels. This is particularly a factor for children, those with some medical

  • Ballard targets gold in Beijing

    Paralympics GB sprinter Graeme Ballard is on the hunt for gold medals as they approach the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Ballard, who runs for Chorley Harriers, made his Paralympic debut in Athens where he won bronze in the 200m. He is adding the 400m

  • Armer celebrates on his "Great-est" day

    GREAT Harwood skipper described winning the Ribblesdale Senior League as “one of the greatest days of his life” as The Cliffe side broke their 108-year duck yesterday. After the wet weather washed out their title showdown with Padiham on Saturday, and

  • Accrington's success makes life smiles better

    ACCRINGTON last night capped their remarkable resurgence by confirming their status as Lancashire League champions and double winners. David Ormerod’s triumphant side did not bowl a ball all weekend as they suffered their third successive no result.

  • School bus in Euxton road crash

    A busy road near Chorley was blocked when a car was in collision with a bus. The white single decker bus, which was ferrying children to school was involved in a collision with a car in Balshaw Lane, Euxton, at 8.15am, this morning.

  • Colne revamp branded 'a joke'

    A LANDMARK £150,000 scheme to revamp a shopping parade in Pendle has been condemned as ‘a town joke’ and ‘a mess’ by councillors. Flagstones are crumbling already on the Market Street centre, which was only unveiled a few weeks ago, and critics have

  • M65 speed limit 'should be lowered'

    THE speed limit on the M65 at Blackburn should be dropped to 50mph to stop noise pollution, according to a new report. A study, commissioned by the Noise Association and Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), found the green belt land around

  • Blackburn Cathedral appoints first female canon

    HISTORY was made at Blackburn Cathedral yesterday when it appointed its first ever female canon. At a service yesterday afternoon, Rev Dr Canon Susan Penfold was made the new Director of Ministry and became the first woman canon to be accepted

  • Mother's anger after death-crash driver gets back behind wheel

    A MOTHER has spoken of her anger after the man who killed her son in a horrific car crash appeared in court for driving while disqualified. Neil Tolley was given a six-year driving ban following the smash in 1997 which claimed the life of 17-year-old

  • Farmers have the X-Tractor

    FARMING’S past was brought back to the future when a fleet of classic tractors took to the roads of the Ribble Valley. Around 20 vintage tractor enthusiasts started their engines yesterday morning and set off from Chipping on a 35-mile trip

  • Tribute to Burnley teen killed in Rishton car crash

    A 19-YEAR-OLD man died when the car he was travelling in smashed into a steel crash barrier. The devastated family of Andrew Taylor, from the Brunshaw area of Burnley, paid tribute to the teenager after the fatal accident in Blackburn Road, Clayton-le-Moors