A MUSIC teacher accused of telling police that she was the victim of three armed robberies has been charged with perverting the course of justice. Tracy Frankcom, 41, of Astley Bank, Darwen, said she was the victim of a series of knife-point
CHORLEY'S Nick Dougherty has narrowly missed out on qualifying for this year’s Open championship. The Shaw Hill professional carded rounds of 68 and 67 in final qualifying at Sunningdale today, but it was not enough to make the top 10 places
FLAMES shot 20ft into the air after arsonists torched a motorbike in Accrington. Derek Brookes had been asleep when neighbours rang him to say his bike was engulfed in flames outside his house in Cedar Street. The four-year-old Honda
CONTROVERSIAL changes to the care of disabled children have been postponed for three months. A legal battle is underway between Blackburn with Darwen Council and a charity that currently runs its short breaks service. The council no
AN East Lancashire drug dealer has been jailed for three years four months today for possessing three shotguns — for just six minutes. Simon Day, 42, of Walmsley Road, Rishton, had been offered the shotguns – stolen from a house in Brindle
In the first of a new ‘where are they now’ series, we track down former Burnley star Geoff Nulty and discovers that the ex-Claret is a busy man – but still retains a love for all things Turf Moor... EX-Claret Geoff Nulty ponders the pitfalls of
AS more and more money is pumped into youth development at clubs up and down the country, we caught up with Blackburn’s 1960s home-grown talent Stuart Metcalfe, who made his Rovers debut at 17 and believes more should be done to blood up-and-coming
HASLINGDEN veteran Mike Ingham maintained his astonishing run of form with the bat for the Lancashire Over 50s as he made an unbeaten 66 for the Red Rose. Ingham, the Lancashire League’s all-time record run scorer, was in fine form and his knock helped
A VAN driver said to have hit a cyclist and then driven off, leaving him him dying at the roadside, has today been warned he is facing jail. Andrew Stanley Edwards, 47, admitted causing the death of Michael Isherwood by careless driving on
AN URGENT plea for more carers to support East Lancashire’s most vulnerable has been made. The charity Care Network said more volunteers were needed to ensure that people with disabilities could cope. Thea Monk from the charity said: “The help our
THE story of Paul Whitney will certainly strike a chord with all in Lancashire. He was a successful and popular man with much to live for. And, at 59 years old, most would expect that he had many more years to enjoy and so much more to achieve. But,
AS a local UKIP MEP, I am concerned over the rumours that Darwen police station could close due to the cost cutting of Lancashire Constabulary. Residents of Darwen are right to be concerned as police response times are sure to be lengthened if the
I WAS surprised to read (LT, May 25) that Blackburn with Darwen NHS is cutting back on foot care for the elderly. In my experience, Black-burn has always been tardy offering this service unless you were unfortunate enough to suffer from diabetes/neuropathy
Sharon Shoesmith, head of Haringey Council’s social services department, stands to receive a payout of anything up to a million pounds for unfair dismissal, as a result of the death of baby P. This poor child suffered horrific injuries on Shoesmith
A TEENAGE girl was punched and kicked and had a mirror smashed over her head after going to assist her mother who was being beaten up. Hyndburn magistrates heard Michael Black – the mum’s partner – carried on hitting and kicking the girl before grabbing
A Lancashire horticultural expert has urged people to 'Buy British' after German beansprouts were blamed for an E.coli outbreak. Eleven people in the UK were among hundreds across the continent who were taken ill with food poisoning apparently
DARWEN soldier Laura Ennis has spent two weeks in the Cyprus heat preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. The 25-year-old gunner who serves with 58 (Eyre’s) Battery, part of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery based at Baker Barracks in West Sussex, has been
STAFF from a Rishton firm are thinking out of the box when it comes to fundraising. Eight women from the Cardboard Box Company are taking part in the Starlight Walk to raise funds for the East Lancashire Hospice on June 18. The firm has also sponsored
EAST Lancashire MP Gordon Birtwistle is hoping to boost the area’s manufacturing sector with an event. The assistant to Treasury chief secretary Danny Alexander, is drumming up support for a manufacturing summit held at the University of Central Lancashire
A DARWEN councillor has warned of a “plague of rats” because of residents failing to take bins in. Coun Roy Davies, from Sudell ward, said bins left out were being contaminated by others, and owners then refused to deal with the problem. He said
A MAN who assaulted his partner three times has been jailed for 16 months. Preston Crown Court was told that during the attacks, Sandra Lewis feared for her life. The attacks involved Michael Burns busting her nose and in another pushing her downstairs
LANCASHIRE’S tourism bosses said there had been a huge explosion in wedding venue inquiries after Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot. The Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board said there was an 83per cent surge in traffic on visitlancashire
A LITERARY festival is being held at Stonyhurst College from June 23 to June 26. Talks, readings, workshops and book-signings will be held throughout the weekend in the College’s Top Refectory. Authors include Lancashire-born Jo Baker, author
Coun Collette McCormack was welcomed as Hyndburn’s first citizen at a mayor-making ceremony, held in Accrington Town Hall on Saturday. The ceremony was followed by a civic procession.
ACCRINGTON’S very own royalty has been announced as preparations get underway for this year’s carnival. Eight-year-old Jasmine-Icho Baron was chosen as this year’s Accrington Carnival Princess, at an event in Accrington Market Hall on Saturday.
FAMILIES basked in the sunshine at the Darwen Market Fun Day. Children flocked to the event, on Saturday afternoon, enjoying fun and entertainment, as well as learning new skills including first aid. St John Ambulance Superintendent Ellie Langford
A 43-year-old man committed benefit fraud months after he had been given a caution for an identical offence. Blackburn magistrates heard David Jolly claimed housing and council tax benefit while he was working and also claiming working tax credit. And
Baxenden stayed on top despite their game against Settle being abandoned yesterday as they were struggling. Settle were 112-4 chasing 129-2 when the rain came down. Read are just two points behind Baxenden after beating Oswaldtwistle
PRO Luke Woodcock starred with the bat as Nelson dumped Lowerhouse of the Worsley Cup to set up a semi-final battle with his old club Church next month. The Liverpool Road quarter-final loss was Lancashire League leaders Lowerhouse’s first
Chorley's Iain Critchley produced a fine all-round display to earn his side maximum points from their trip to Preston. Critchley, batting at number seven, made an unbeaten 45 to steer his side to 135 after they had been 38-5. Will Moulton made 40
DARWEN turned it on for the ladies on Saturday as they stormed to a stunning win over Lancaster on a special day at Birch Hall. The match was dedicated as Ladies Day as the Towers celebrate their centenary season – and it was a top effort from the
BAXENDEN showed that winning mentality on Saturday as they dug deep to beat Salesbury without ever hitting anything like top gear at a sunny Ribchester Road. Andy Caunce’s men were always in control of a match in which Salesbury never really
I AM often asked, especially by young naturalists, where the best place to view wildlife is. I always tell them to start looking where they are – close to home. Even in the towns, there is plenty to see. I was in Clitheroe on May 25 and swifts were
A NEW chef head has been appointed at celebrity chef Paul Heathcote's flagship Longridge Restaurant. Hywel Griffith will replace Chris Bell as head chef later this month. He previously worked at the Ynyshir Hall Hotel in Wales. Owner Paul Heathcote
A STAND-UP comedian from Blackburn has reached the semi-finals of a BBC Radio 2 competition. Tez Ilyas, 28, hopes to follow in the footsteps of hometown hero Lee Mack by reaching the final of the 2011 New Comedy Award. Originally from Whalley
A weird thing happened last week. A man in a van pulled over outside my home and asked: “Do you need a mattress?” As it happened, I did — ours was 22 years old and, considering you’re meant to change them every 10 years, was long in need of replacing
TECHNOLOGY firm Utilisoft has won a contract to supply Good Energy. The deal will see Chorley-based Utilisoft provide its data fuel industry data management software to the energy supply company. Utilisoft sales director Matthew Hirst said: “Good
A NEW fire safety company has vowed to return some of its profits to the community. Friendly Fire and Safety, of Barn Meadow Lane, Great Harwood, said a portion of its earnings will be put into a trust fund to benefit good causes. The firm, founded
THE Pendle Phoenix RUFC pitches are the best in the league, according to referees. Stephen Bowes, Adam Hall, Martin Payne, Michael Speight, Adrian Whitehead and Steven Hargreaves work hard all week during the rugby season to ensure the pitches at Hodge
NAPTHENS Solicitors has hired solicitor Lisa Benskin to join its litigation team. Miss Benskin made her name by securing the largest- ever award of costs against a public authority, £25,000, for a North Wales nightclub that wrongly had its licence
A MAN who raped an Accrington schoolgirl when he was aged 16 has today been jailed for six years. Zak O'Brien, now 21, was said to have grabbed the girl's arms and told her ‘come on, don't be chicken’. His victim only came forward three
THE Trafford Centre on a Saturday afternoon. Mobbed. Not my idea of fun. But a stone’s throw from John Lewis, in the sprawling car park, stands a huge, white, inflatable dome - home to the touring In the Night Garden Live! And after taking my young
COMEDY fans in East Lancashire will be treated to two shows heading for the prestigious August Edinburgh Festival on June 6. The Sparrowhawk will play host to comedians Michael J Dolan and Alfie Moore as part of touring comedy club The Ha Ha
MUSIC lovers flocked to The ACE Centre in Nelson for the first ever Pendle Guitar Festival yesterday. In the Cross Street venue’s bistro there were live performances by jazz, folk and blues musicians. Workshops were also given by Adam Palma, Adrian
TALENTED youngsters from across the North West descended on Pendle for the borough’s answer to the X-Factor. Budding performers including dancers, singers and actors went head-to-head against each other as part of this year’s Luther Greenwood Festival
GYPSY representatives attended an NHS East Lancashire board meeting to talk about their experience of healthcare. Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) community members were invited to Walshaw House, in Nelson, as part of the primary care trust’s ‘patient story
THIS year’s prestigious Horse of the Year Show will be immortalised on film by a Burnley firm. B&M Videos will be the official videographer at the world famous show, which takes place between October 4 and 9. Brian Wrigley, from the firm, said:
A PROLIFIC burglar was found in the back yard of a Burnley home at night, armed with a thieving kit, a court heard. Lee Watts, 41, had a hammer, screwdriver, scissors, pipe cutter, torches and other small tools in a rucksack when police saw him at
A ROYAL Navy serviceman from Burnley showed his gun skills in a prestigious contest inspired by the heroic actions of sailors during the Boer War. Weapon engineering technician Ryan Day, along with 17 others from the crew on board HMS Campbeltown,
A CHIPPY in Nelson is offering customers an alternative to cod and haddock in an attempt to solve the problem of over-fishing. Lee Holt, of Holt’s Fish and Chips, said he was inspired to change his menu after watching Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s
A KEEN Haslingden photographer is to set up his own photography business after completing an amateur photography course. Administrator Owen Warburton, 27, joined the “Getting to Grips with your Digital Camera”, at Ramsbottom Library and Adult Learning
A TEENAGER has become a company’s youngest-ever worker after impressing bosses with his passion for engineering. James Entwistle, 16, will begin work at Blackburn-based Optima Control Solutions (OCS) in September. The teenager, a student at Hollins
A POLICE force accidentally destroyed CCTV footage of a horror smash which killed a cyclist from Rossendale, an inquest heard. Harry Wilmers, 25, of Rawtenstall, died after being hit by a lorry in Old Trafford, near Manchester, in August 2009.
THIS has been a year of fairytale weddings. Five weeks ago the nation was captivated by Prince William and Kate Middleton as they tied the knot at Westminster Abbey. But for all of the royal splendour of that occasion, it couldn’t match the joy, happiness
I liked the opinion expressed by Brian McGlynn (LT, May 28) that correctly analyses the state of religion generally as having a predilection for maintaining authority over the populous and exacting financial and other benefits, but with the qualification
It’s all good in Blackburn town centre at the moment. The redeveloped Mall provides the modern consumer with a relaxed, but vibrant atmosphere, whilst the new market offers the traditional Lancashire fayre with a twist. Well done to the planners
IT is frighteningly easy to be complacent about future food supplies when you have plenty. Without its own internal food supply and with a rising world population, the UK leaves itself wide open to serious food shortages and serious price rises. We
ROYAL Mail workers in Burnley are threatening to strike over the treatment of a colleague who has been suspended by Royal Mail, according to union bosses. Workers at the Royal Mail delivery office in Bank Parade held a meeting on Friday to
AN art project which depicts life in Burnley will cost more than £10,000, it has been revealed. The 10-month project will see seven sculptures exhibited in the Burnley Room at Towneley Hall between now and next March. Each will be designed by artist
A HEARING into the conduct of a doctor who failed to identify cancer in 61 East Lancashire women has been postponed. Dr Glenn Anthony Kelly was formally charged with ‘deficient professional performance’ by the General Medical Council (GMC) and was
From Russia With Love. The world’s most famous circus brings its best kept ‘sekret’ to you as Moscow State Circus visits Cumbria. The Moscow State Circus brings its latest and most spectacular show to date to the UK with this sensational extravaganza
BURNLEY chief executive Paul Fletcher has insisted that Eddie Howe will have the final say if the club receive bids for any of their star players this summer. The Clarets face a second season in the Championship next term after missing out
Blackburn Rovers midfielders Keith Andrews and Morten Gamst Pedersen experienced differing fortunes in their weekend Euro 2012 qualifiers. Andrews played the full 90 minutes as the Republic of Ireland beat Macedonia 2-0 in Skopje courtesy of Robbie
NIKOLA Kalinic is determined to prove he can still be a Premier League hit but can see his dreams of making his point at Blackburn Rovers fading. The Croatian international – who scored the winning goal for his country last Friday night
A MAN who tried to trick his way into a Darwen woman’s home, claiming he was being chased, has been jailed for a total of 21 months. Jamie King was heard rattling the door handle one morning. He then asked to be let in, but the woman refused. King
A 41-year-old Darwen woman twice breached the trust of friends to feed her amphetamine habit. Blackburn magistrates heard Wendy Evans stole a laptop after offering to get it fixed and then stole household items worth £622 after offering to ‘flat sit
why not celebrate a 100th birthday with two parties? That’s exactly what great-great-grandmother Bessie Thompson is doing for hers. The centenarian enjoyed a party surrounded by her family. She has 14 grandchildren, 23 great grand children and three
Direct from the USA and celebrating 50 years of number one Motown hits, The Magic of Motown tribute concert is coming to town. The record label that brought the likes of the Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder,
SOS Festival is now in its fourth year and has become a prestigious festival amongst the rock fraternity. The line-up for the 2011 festival which takes place at Radcliffe Civic on July 16 and 17 has now been confirmed. We have teamed up with them
Tottenham duo Jermaine Jenas and Robbie Keane could leave Spurs for newly promoted QPR. Midfielder Jenas, 28, would cost around £7m, while 30-year-old Keane is more likely to move on loan. Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has admitted that he is glad
Pleasington’s Jon Hurst last night came 37th in the St Andrews Link Trophy in Scotland, although he was ninth at the halfway stage. Chorley-based Sam Stuart, of St Annes Old Links, came in 40th place.
Blackburn’s Corisande Lee failed the make the cut in the Dutch Open. The 26-year-old fired rounds of 81 and 77 in Rotterdam. England’s Melissa Read won the tournament, picking up 37,500 euros winnings.
THE eyes of the cricket world were turned on to the Lancashire League yesterday when Sky Sports featured Burnley CC, Lowerhouse and Haslingden in their latest in their Club Life series. The feature, screened during the lunch break of the Lord
Padiham fan Adrian Clark has raised more than £1,100 from a sponsored challenge to walk, swim and cycle from Barley to Blackpool Tower. Padiham secretary Alan Smith said: “It’s been a fantastic effort.”
Blackburn’s Steven McGlynn came fourth in the Lancashire Amateur Championships yesterday at Manchester Golf Club. The county player was leading the 72-hole event after the first round, when he reeled off seven birdies.
John Simpson’s brilliant 60 not out was not enough to lead Middlesex to a FL t20 win at Somerset yesterday. The former Haslingden wicketkeeper faced just 27 balls but his side fell 40 runs short of Somerset’s testing 235.
Lancashire Lightning extended their unbeaten run in the Friends Life T20 north group to three games with an emphatic five-wicket win over Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road. Opener Tom Smith hit a sparkling 75 as Lancashire made light work
ACCRINGTON Stanley legend Paul Mullin says he has been proud to watch son Alex’s progress at Burnley. The 17-year-old midfielder is currently in the Clarets’ youth set-up and broke into the reserve team squad towards the end of the 2010/11
Klaus Klaffenbock and Daniel Sayle made it three wins in a row when they took victory in the Isle of Man Sidecar TT Race One on Saturday, shattering the dreams of Mellor speedster John Holden by just 10 seconds. The Austrian/Manx pairing took the lead
CELEBRITY Clarets fan Alastair Campbell was involved in a scuffle with pop singer Tom Parker from The Wanted during a charity football tournament in Burnley. The on-field bust-up happened during the Soccer Six tournament, which attracted
A WAR hero who was left unable to have children after he lost both legs in a Taliban bomb blast has tied the knot with his fiancée in an emotional wedding ceremony. Army Sergeant Rick Clements, 31, had promised to marry girlfriend of eighteen
