Archive

  • Friends plan bar crawl in memory of Todmorden soldier

    A CHARITY fundraiser in memory of a former Todmorden High student who lost his life from injuries suffered in the Afghan conflict will take place in June. Friends of Jack Stanley, who died earlier this month aged 26, after stepping on an improvised explosive

  • Burnley reserves secure second spot

    BURNLEY RES 3, TRANMERE RES 1 BURNLEY reserves tonight secured runners up spot in the Central League West Division thanks to a comfortable win over Tranmere Rovers reserves at Turf Moor. The Clarets leapfrogged the Wirral outfit into second

  • Burnley arson pair sent for crown trial

    TEENAGERS have appeared before Burnley magistrates accused of an arson attack on a community centre. Foyzul Hoque, 18, and a 15-year-old youth, have each been accused of two charges relating to a Daneshouse Community Centre fire on April 16. Hoque,

  • Colne family overwhelmed by support for meningitis victim

    THE family of a baby struck down by meningitis say they are ‘overwhelmed’ by the support they have received from local people. Eight-month-old Louie Jenkins, from Colne, lost both legs, the fingers on his left hand and the tips of the fingers on his

  • Marathon effort for terminally-ill Burnley boy

    TERMINALLY-ill Burnley tot Joshua Hill received a family boost after his aunt completed the London Marathon. Joshua, who was one last month, has ohtahara syndrome, a very rare form of epilepsy. His aunt, Gail Hill, 39, completed the run in three hours

  • Waterfoot Adele sound-alike works with rap star Tinie Tempah

    A WATERFOOT mum-of-two has been working on a collaboration between grime-pop rapper Tinie Tempah and pop sensation Adele. Lareena Mitchell, 32, of Burnley Road East, has performed a tribute act to the multi-award winning artist Adele for the past three

  • Jukebox falls silent as 'music police' raid Padiham pub

    ANOTHER publican in East Lancashire has been ordered to turn off the jukebox after being raided by a music industry watchdog. Background music could become a thing of the past at The Bridge Inn, in Burnley Road, Padiham, unless landlady Beverley McRae

  • Very-long johns of the 'Blackburn Giant' sell for £550

    LONG johns and a night-shirt belonging to the ‘Blackburn Giant’ have fetched more than twice as much as expected when they went up for auction. Undergarments belonging to Frederick Kempster, at 8ft 4.5ins tall reputed to be one of the largest men to

  • Letter: 'Tash' film was a real hoot

    When friends recently asked me out with them to King George’s Hall to see a comedy film made by an amateur film company, I didn’t know what to expect. What a good night we had. The film ‘Tash Force’ was hilarious from beginning to end. Mark Woodward

  • Alarm saves Burnley woman, 81, in pan blaze

    AN elderly disabled woman was saved from serious harm in a house fire thanks to her smoke alarm. The 81-year-old, who has a visual impairment and mobility problems, left a pan of oil on a burning oven hob at her home in Wordsworth Street, Burnley, on

  • Letter: NHS survey not representative

    REGARDING the story about a large survey being conducted on the health and lifestyles of people in East Lancashire, the selection was ‘made via GP registered patient lists’. This means that the GPs have hand-picked those who will be taking part in

  • Letter: Brand mistaken about addicts

    I was disgusted to read Russell Brand’s opinion that tak-ing drugs should not be seen as a ‘criminal or judicial matter’ but as a ‘health issue’. These same scum of the earth would not think twice about beating an old man or lady half to death, or worse

  • Letter: Treaty should be torn up

    Chris Tappin, Garry McKinnon, Ian Norris, Jeff-rey Tesler, Richard O’Dwyer, Babar Ahmad and Seyla Ahsan are all victims of the same problem: the UK-US Extradition Treaty. British citizens accused of a crime allegedly commit-ted on British soil should

  • Letter: Does anyone have a clue?

    I remember the time, not many years ago, when they told us there would not be a recession. Then they told us there would be a recession but it would be mild and short. Then they said we were in recession but we’d soon bounce out of it. Then they

  • Comment: Torch bill shame of Olympics

    THE Olympic Games have been described as the greatest show on earth. Billions of taxpayers' money has been spent on the 2012 Games, including the new showpiece stadium in London. But organisers have scored an own goal by charging torch bearers £240

  • Padiham house burglars pulled radiator from wall

    TWO house raiders who struck at a property in Padiham in the early hours walked free from court. Jordan Buckley, 18, and Nathan Smith, 19, had gone with tools to remove piping. They had pulled radiators off the wall and were trying to remove

  • Libraries to host history days shows

    A NEW community history project will see mementoes, keepsakes and family heirlooms put on display in East Lancashire libraries. Lancashire County Council is urging people to take their items to the library in May and June as part of its Collecting History

  • Last letter by Colne Titanic hero Wallace Hartley fetches £95k

    A LAST letter penned by Colne’s Titanic hero Wallace Hartley has fetched more than £95,000 at an American auction. Private investors secured the historic note, written on White Star Liner paper, to his parents Albion and Elizabeth, for nearly $186,000

  • Builders seek second opinion on Helmshore horse chestnut tree

    A HOUSING firm with plans to build 74 houses in a Rossendale village has responded to residents fighting to save a 100-year-old tree on the development site. More than 750 people in Helmshore have joined a special page entitled ‘Save our Horse Chestnut

  • Ramsbottom to celebrate links with Dickens

    HISTORIANS in Ramsbottom will be celebrating the town’s links with Charles Dickens as part of a heritage extravaganza. Dickens is said to have based the Cheeryble Brothers, in Nicholas Nickleby, on William and David Grant. The industrialist brothers

  • Bacup Credit Union offers work experience to students

    A CREDIT union is celebrating coming of age by offering work experience to students. Manager of Bacup Credit Union Eileen Goodwin said: “All too often we hear about students who have worked hard and invested in getting a degree but then can’t get a

  • Rossendale furniture maker wins top award

    A ROSSENDALE kitchen and bedroom manufacturer has received a top award for the quality of its products. Bacup-based JJO Plc has received the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) Gold certificate. It joins companies such as IKEA and Formica

  • Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle makes appeal to companies

    BURNLEY MP Gordon Birtwistle is calling on local manufacturing firms to enter a competition to win £20,000 worth of consultancy. Applications for the Manufacturing Excellence 2012 awards must be in by June 1. Mr Birtwistle said: “I’m calling for businesses

  • Give blood appeal to East Lancashire donors

    DONORS are needed to boost blood stocks by more than 30 per cent before the start of the Olympic Games in July. Past experience has shown that even the region’s 144,000 regular donors miss appointments during national events and celebrations, as routines

  • Banned driver from Blackburn caught at the wheel

    DANIEL Alan Haworth, 20, of Burnley Road, Blackburn, was made subject to 12 months’ community supervision, ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work, banned from driving for seven months and fined £50 with £50 costs by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty

  • Cuts hit school music lessons for Blackburn with Darwen

    BUDGET cuts could hit the wrong note for children in the Blackburn and Darwen area. A redundancy consultation has begun with all 25 staff at the music and performing arts service as council bosses await a decision on funding from the Arts Council. If

  • Warning issued on new Olympic lottery scam

    A WARNING has been issued about an Olympic lottery scam being used in the county. Lancashire County Council has received complaints that letters illegally branded with the official Olympic and London 2012 logos tell recipients they have won a £500,000

  • Lancashire County Council offers apprenticeship chance

    CIVIL engineers, lab workers and planners are being encouraged to apply for a Lancashire County Council apprenticeship. The council wants applications for its technical graduate development and apprenticeship programmes, which give people the chance

  • £1.77m upgrade for Ribble Valley special school

    PLANS for a £1.77million upgrade for a Ribble Valley special school have been drawn up by education chiefs. An extra 18 students look set to be taken on at Hillside, in Ribchester Road, Longridge, which caters for learners with autistic spectrum disorders

  • Bluebell woods envy of botanists

    We are lucky in the North West of England in that bluebells grow better here than in anywhere else in Europe. Our warm wet springs suit them perfectly and our bluebell woods are envied by botanists over the rest of Britain. There is lots of folklore

  • Lower Darwen children sing in memory of Maddi

    SCHOOL pals of seven-year-old Madison Allan have recorded a song in her memory. The song, One Promise, has been written by music teacher Jeff Price following the death of the Lower Darwen girl from neuroblastoma cancer on Boxing Day last year. Mr Price

  • Blackburn teachers protest over redundancy

    TEACHERS have called for an independent investigaton into a controversial redeployment scheme. Staff facing the axe claim that they were given ‘repeated’ promises that there would be no redundancies as part of Blackburn with Darwen Council's Building

  • New homes plan for Blackburn's Eclipse Mill site

    DETAILS have now been released for a housing development on the site of a former Blackburn Mill. Councillors say residents welcome Preston-based Pringle Homes’ plans to build 38 homes on land where Eclipse Mill stood in Eclipse Road, Feniscowles. Plans

  • Blackburn nursery backs 20mph plan

    A BLACKBURN nursery is backing the introduction of 20mph zones by holding a road safety day for children. Longshaw Nursery School and Children's Centre will be running a Beep Beep! day to raise funds for Brake on Wednesday, May 2. Around 120 children

  • Pubs in Lancashire hit hard by rising beer prices

    Pubs in Lancashire and the West Midlands have been hardest hit by closures, according to a study. Across the England, Wales and Scotland, pubs are closing at the rate of 12 a week, with "crippling" beer taxes threatening the future of the industry, the

  • Police host community meeting

    THE next Darwen town centre Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting is to be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 2 at the leisure centre in Green Street. All residents and business owners are welcome.

  • Bat walk at Darwen Cemetery

    A BAT walk has been organised by the Friends of Darwen Cemetery. The free event on Saturday, May 12, is suitable for adults and children. Meet at 8pm at the Whitehall Community Building in Whitehall Road, for a short talk before a walk in the Western

  • Council praise for Darwen fire hero

    COUNCIL chiefs have added their praise to a binman whose quick-thinking prevented a serious fire. Mark Scott, 43, was on his rounds in Ellenshaw Close, Darwen, last Wednesday, when he noticed a fire in a second-floor flat. Mark helped

  • Row over East Lancashire library budget cut claim

    LANCASHIRE has suffered the biggest cuts to library service in the country, according to a study by the Labour Party. But although county hall bosses said they cannot quibble about the figures, they refute the ‘misleading interpretation’ and are considering

  • Four Burnley schools close after water system failure

    Schools at Burnley Campus closed this morning because of problems with the water system. Holly Grove School, Reedley Hallows Nursery School, Barden Primary School and Thomas Whitham Sixth Form all closed at 10.30am today. A message sent

  • Gallery: Family fun at Lancashire Telegraph Wedding Fair

    EXCITED brides and grooms-to-be gathered for the Lancashire Telegraph wedding fair at Ewood Park yesterday. The Premier Suite displayed everything for on the big day. Catwalk shows were held of bridal dresses from Anne Whittaker of Accrington, and

  • Hapton chemical site is cleaned

    A CLEAN-up campaign has been completed at a former East Lancashire chemical plant which could one day be the site for 280 homes and a country park. Part of the former William Blythe factory at Hapton has been earmarked for a sprawling new housing estate

  • Motorcycle trials display comes to Blackburn

    BIKERS were revved up for an open day at the Rocket Centre in Blackburn on Saturday. Former professional road racer Jamie Whitham opened the occasion at the Trident Park showroom, which featured a trials bike display, service unit, live music, kids’

  • Blackburn businesses warned over bogus invoices

    BUSINESSES and charities across Blackburn with Darwen are being warned to watch out for a sham company posting invoices and demanding payment for non-existent work. The scheme was first discovered in Croydon where 72 complaints relating to a company

  • East Lancs Olympic torchbearers told to pay to keep own torch

    COMMUNITY champions given the opportunity of carrying the Olympic torch are being 'ripped off' by organisers, it has been claimed. The torch bearers, who have worked tirelessly in their communities and raised thousands of pounds for charity, must fork

  • Column: It's hard to learn to let my daughter go

    My eldest daughter turns 16 this week. I find it hard to believe that the baby I proudly pushed around in a pram can now legally leave home, marry and have a child of her own. It's scary, because while to me she's still the little girl I want to protect

  • Accrington teenager admits sex with children

    A TEENAGER who had sex sessions with a schoolgirl and then moved on to another, has been locked up for a year. Burnley Crown Court heard how ‘immature’ Stuart Spiers, now 19, had been served with a notice under the Child Abduction Act by police, banning

  • Oswaldtwistle woman on trial over marriage scam

    GEMMA Nelson, 27, of Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle, will stand trial at Preston Crown Court, charged with being a witness to a sham marriage. Miss Nelson is accused of breaching immigration law by knowing that Trang Thi Thuy Luu was not a European Union

  • Psychic Sally returns to Blackburn

    PSYCHIC Sally will be at Blackburn’s King George’s Hall on Wednesday. The show, Sally Morgan – Psychic Sally On The Road, returns by overwhelming public demand. Fresh from her new TV series, Psychic Sally On The Road on Sky Living, Britain’s best-loved

  • Win Tickets to see The Berlin Symphony Orchestra

    Berlin Symphony Orchestra | The Sands Centre | Carlisle | Saturday, May 19 | 7.30pm The Sands’ International Orchestral Concert Series 2011-12 finishes with the enigmatic Berlin Symphony Orchestra. The evening’s programme consists of

  • Win a fun-packed day of wine with the Three Wine Men

    Olly, Oz and Tim are on a mission to show you just how much fun wine can be. They are very excited to be coming back to the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester on May 26 and 27. You will have a great time, whether you’re an expert, an

  • Burnley pub played music without licence

    ANOTHER publican in East Lancashire has been ordered to turn off the jukebox after being raided by a music industry watchdog. Background music could become a thing of the past at The Bridge Inn, in Burnley Road, Padiham, unless landlady Beverley McRae

  • Children safer as Clitheroe firm continues to grow

    CLITHEROE-based safeguarding specialists, The Athena Programme, has marked its fifth year in business and celebrated by reporting an increase in growth. The award-winning firm, which offers a range of training and consultancy services for the safeguarding

  • Pendle Witches remembered 400 years on

    NINETY children from three Lancashire primary schools braved the elements to walk up Pendle Hill as part of a project inspired by the 400th anniversary of the witches trial. Youngsters from Brennand’s Endowed in Slaidburn, Padiham Green and Quernmore

  • North West Counties League round-up

    Two goals from Adam Dale earned Bacup Borough a 2-1 win over Bootle at a soggy West View. But more rain has led to more congestion for Borough as they North West Counties League season enters extra time. Dale hit the net twice in the first half and

  • Just champion boss declares Rams' 'mission accomplished'

    DELIGHTED joint boss Bernard Morley declared it ‘mission accomplished’ as brilliant Ramsbottom United stormed to the North West Counties League Premier Division title to kick start a party on Saturday. The Rams needed to beat Winsford United to guarantee

  • Chorley hopes get the chop

    Chorley’s dreams of a second successive promotion were shattered in front of an expectant 2,754 crowd in a scrappy Evo-Stik League Premier Division play-off semi-final not without controversy. FC United were good value for their victory, generally playing

  • Kean: We didn’t lack ambition at Spurs

    STEVE Kean insists Blackburn Rovers side were full of ambition in their embarrassing 2-0 defeat at White Hart Lane – despite failing to have a shot all game. Rovers became the first Premier League side since 2004 to fail to muster a shot

  • Cook: My Stanley men have switched off

    ACCRINGTON Stanley boss Paul Cook has expressed his frustration after accusing his players of switching off as the season comes to a close. Stanley were beaten 5-1 in their penultimate game of the campaign at Bristol Rovers on Saturday to drop back into

  • Final day goal gives Ings encouragement

    DANNY Ings hopes signing off a difficult season with a goal is a good omen for the next campaign. The striker admitted he wasn't ready for the fixture list to run out at the weekend, after only breaking into the side in February following injury. The

  • Five show interest in Claret Rodriguez

    BURNLEY are facing a battle to keep Jay Rodriguez – with at least five Premier League clubs chasing their top scorer. Newcastle, Fulham, Norwich, Bolton and newly promoted Southampton are among those who have registered their interest in the

  • Venky’s say club is not for sale as dire Rovers crash

    BLACKBURN Rovers’ Premier League status was left hanging by a thread last night – but owners Venky’s insist they have no plans to sell the club whatever their end of season fate. An embarrassing 2-0 defeat at Tottenham yesterday afternoon leaves a shambolic

  • GALLERY: Blackburn Hawks miss out on their first trophy

    BLACKBURN Hawks just missed out on the first major trophy of their 22-year history despite running Billingham Stars in the English National Ice Hockey League North One play-off final last night. After a difficult start, Hawks came from two

  • Clarets reserves in action

    Burnley’s reserve team host Tranmere at Turf Moor tonight at 7pm. They play their final game at home to Macclesfield Town on Friday.

  • Taylor is top of the Scots

    Chorley’s Emily Taylor was East Lancashire’s top finisher at the Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship by shooting 225 over three rounds. Pleasington’s Nikki Foster finished on three over at Troon.

  • Ribblesdale League Saturday round-up

    BRILLIANT Barnoldswick surged to the top of the Ribblesdale League on a soggy Saturday as their mass mopping up of Victory Park afforded them the chance to shatter the winning start of Settle. Barlick sent out a message on Thursday wanting volunteers

  • Hitchon takes top spot

    Burnley hammer thrower Sophie Hitchon threw 68.52m as she finished first in the 18th Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine, near Los Angeles. The 20-year-old is set return to Britain today after spending more than a month training and competing in California

  • Rain puts a damper on Lancashire League programme

    Yesterday’s Foster’s Lancashire League programme was been washed out after heavy rain swept across East Lancashire. All seven games were called off before their scheduled start times after overnight rain continued into the morning and flooded already

  • Northern League Saturday round-up

    BRILLIANT Darwen claimed their first win of the Northern Premier League season on Saturday as they roared into life to thump reigning champions St Annes at Birch Hall. The Towers had just a winning draw and a losing draw to their names from the first

  • Accrington coast through in LCB

    Accrington coasted into the second round of the Lancashire Cup on Saturday as they crushed Gujarat at Thorneyholme Road in their delayed clash. The game should have been held last weekend – but with both teams present, neither umpire showed up following

  • Kerrigan thrilled at Lions call

    Lancashire star Simon Kerrigan says his call to the England Lions squad for the game with West Indies came as a real surprise to him. “I never expected that at all but I am really thrilled at the prospect,” said the spinner who started his career with

  • Audley set for Subs show

    Audley take on Darwen Subs ‘C’ in the Blackburn and Darwen Conservative Clubs Snooker League’s knockout final at St Mark’s Conservative Club tonight. The first break off is at 7.45pm.

  • Social service blow for Low Moor

    In front of a packed crowd reigning North West 10 Reds champions Low Moor lost their first game for almost two years as they crashed out at the quarter-final stage to their neighbours Clitheroe Social Club. Social, who are playing in the competition

  • Wiggins is top of the Tour

    Chorley’s Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de Romandie title after producing a sensational time trial to win yesterday’s 16.5km stage in Crans-Montana. The Team Sky rider had to change his bike early on after a mechanical problem. But he powered round in