Archive

  • D-Day for Kean at Blackburn

    STEVE Kean will have his Blackburn Rovers fate delivered to him tomorrow after being locked in talks for three hours with the club’s owners in India today. The Rovers boss met with all four of the club’s owners at their Pune HQ where he

  • Burnley MP to promote apprenticeships

    BURNLEY MP Gordon Birtwistle is to chair a new Parliamentary group to promote industry apprenticeships. The new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on apprenticeships has been brought together by EAL, the specialist awarding organisation for industry

  • East Lancashire metering company Bglobal holds on to profit

    A SMART meter company in East Lancashire says it remains profitable with a strong balance sheet of £3.5million, despite ‘challenging trading conditions’. Bglobal said its metering had delivered an operating profit for the year to March 31 and benefited

  • Future of Hen Harriers hangs in balance of the Ribble Valley

    HEN harriers are ‘perilously close’ to being wiped out from their last remaining stronghold in the country — in the Ribble Valley. No hen harriers are attempting to nest in the Bowland Fells the RSPB said. Only four nesting pairs raised chicks last

  • Column: We have to be competitive on commitment

    UNEMPLOYMENT in East Lancashire is now the worst it has been for many years and the young are suffering badly. Our area has traditionally relied strongly on manufacturing and been adversely affected by all kinds of competitive pressures, as well as

  • Bowland burger stakes its claim to fame

    AN East Lancashire pub has won an award for its burgers in a national competition. The Fence Gate Inn, in Fence, near Burnley, won the final round of the ‘England’s Best Burger Challenge 2012’ to triumph in the independent category with its Bowland

  • Police launch ‘Farmwatch’ in East Lancashire

    THOUSANDS of pounds of farm equipment, including a two-tonne generator, has been found by police just two days after the launch of a new crime prevention scheme. The items, stolen in Cambridgeshire, were found at an address in Altham.

  • Fire in Accrington town centre near 'Queen's route'

    A fire in the centre of Accrington - just 300 metres away from the Town Hall, where the Queen arrived earlier is now almost completely out. Flames were seen pouring out of the historic former Accrington Conservative Club at 2pm. The

  • Bishop of Blackburn hits out at Lords reform plans

    THE Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, has hit out against Government plans to reform the House of Lords. He said the proposals were inappropriate because ‘the country had greater challenges to face’. Bishop Nicholas told

  • Queen enjoys royal visit to East Lancashire

    THOUSANDS of people turned out in Burnley and Accrington today to greet the Queen on her Jubilee tour of East Lancashire. Accompanied by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh and son Prince Charles, she was welcomed to the county by the Lord Lieutenant

  • Blackburn mum launches her own chocolate enterprise

    ENCOURAGMENT from friends and relatives gave Sabiha the push she needed to enter The Mall Blackburn’s annual Retail Factor contest. And victory was sweet for the 33-year-old mum of three as she picked up her prize of two months free trading

  • Thieves in swim suits hit East Lancashire stores

    SHOPLIFTERS are using female swimsuits when they go out stealing in East Lancashire, a court has been told. A Romanian man was caught shoplifting wearing the latest ‘accessory. Blackburn magistrates heard the garment had a hole cut in so the thief

  • ‘Well-off’ Bacup woman in M&S refunds scam

    A ‘WELL-OFF’ Bacup woman defrauded Marks and Spencer out of hundreds of pounds in a bogus receipts refund scam, a court heard. Kathleen Stepien, 57, who had retired early with her husband, had properties and savings, and lived a comfortable life, but

  • Blackburn school head hits back at critics

    BOSSES at a Blackburn primary school that had a £3million council funded expansion have explained their reasons to pursue academy status. An application has been submitted to the Department for Education to convert Wensley Fold (VC) CofE Primary

  • End of an era for Longridge restaurateur Paul Heathcote

    ONE of East Lancashire’s top restaurants, run by celebrity chef Paul Heathcote, has closed after 22 years. The Longridge eatery, in Higher Road, was the Michelin-starred chef’s flagship site. Mr Heathcote said the decision to close it

  • Queen praises Prince Charles for Burnley work

    THE Queen has praised Prince Charles for the ‘considerable difference’ his charities have made to the regeneration of Burnley. Starting her Diamond Jubilee tour of the north-west in Burnley, Her Majesty paid special tribute to the ‘selfless

  • Terry named in England Euro 2012 squad

    Rio Ferdinand has been left out of England's Euro 2012 squad but John Terry has been named in the party. As had been widely reported, the Manchester United defender's name was missing from Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad when it was unveiled by

  • Communications firm Daisy creates 80 new jobs

    NELSON-based communications firm Daisy has created 80 new jobs after its customer contact centre became a 24-hour operation. The firm’s centre, in Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, is becoming an all day operation following its recent growth. With more

  • Rossendale axe man jailed

    A DAD who set off for his ex-partner's home armed with an axe, has been jailed for 21 months. James Trow, 34, who also had a rope, met a neighbour and told her: “I'm going to sort that bitch out,” Burnley Crown Court heard. Trow, who claimed he

  • Darwen's new mayor is named

    LONG-serving Darwen councillor Eileen Entwistle has spoken of her pride after being named the town council’s new mayor. The Sudell representative was voted in as the new mayor at last night’s first meeting of the council since the local elections earlier

  • Kam’s the ideal man for Baxenden

    ANDY Caunce reckons there is more to come from big-hitting Baxenden professional Kamran Younas after he blasted Bash to their stunning win over Oswaldtwistle Immanuel on Saturday. The Back Lane captain looked on with a smile as Younas smashed 99 not

  • Clark boosts Barrowford with six-wicket haul

    BARROWFORD enjoyed a successful weekend in the Craven League as both their teams enjoyed comfortable wins. The first team travelled to Cullingworth and, bowling first, Matthew Clark and Chris Platt ensured the home batsmen never settled, with Clark returning

  • Searle enjoys fine start for English title

    PLEASINGTON teenager Helen Searle coped brilliantly with the elements at Royal Birkdale yesterday to take the joint lead in the early stages of the English Women’s Close Amateur Championship first round. Strong winds and cold temperatures affected the

  • YouTube video is new mishap

    IS anyone actually surprised that some Steve Kean comments are again the talk of the footballing world? It has been happening for 18 months now. The footage that has been put on YouTube apparently showing Kean insulting former boss Sam Allardyce

  • Fans group granted government meeting

    The fans’ group campaigning for the removal of Blackburn manager Steve Kean have been granted meetings with Government and the Premier League to air their concerns. The BRFC Action Group have long called for the removal of Kean and claim owners Venky

  • Nelson woman fined for playing music too loudly

    A WOMAN was fined for playing music too loudly in her terrace home. Louise Simes, 31, of Bevan Place, Nelson, was hit with the charge after failing to turn down the music following a visit from council officers. She admitted seven counts of breaching

  • Sam's fury at Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean

    SAM Allardyce is taking legal advice over a rant caught on film by Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean ahead of today’s showdown meeting with club matriarch Mrs Desai in India. Allardyce is understood to be furious and has instructed his lawyers