A ‘desperate’ drunk who tried to mug a dog walker in the early hours for his can of cider, has been spared jail. Burnley Crown Court was told how Clifford Bamber, 28, had drunk three litres of cider when he attacked victim Jason Brown with dumbbells
A TEENAGER who boasted “I like being a racist” has admitted breaching the terms of his youth rehabilitation order. The 15-year-old, who lives in care and cannot be named for legal reasons, hurled racist insults at a worker in Burnley on November
A CARAVAN and crane are believed to have been set alight at a builder’s yard, in Burnley. Three fire crews, two from Burnley and another from Nelson, attended the blaze, which broke out in Mitella Street, at around midnight on Saturday. Crew
THE funeral of one of Burnley Football Club’s best-known supporters will be held on Friday, November 30. Janice Fretwell, 55, of Ightenhill, lost her battle with ovarian cancer on Thursday, November 22 A church service will be held at Habergam
A SECOND group of war veterans have been given the freedom of a Pendle town at a civic ceremony. Earby Town Council honoured seven men and women at the event in New Road Community Centre on Saturday evening. In June this year, 23 other veterans
How do we know what’s true and the Truth? The world isn’t flat, is it? Adam and Eve weren’t the first people on that planet, were they? What is true and what is the Truth? Just checking the league tables briefly in the global multi-millions
As our eight remaining couples become seven and after last weeks high of Wembley, it is now time to pull out all of the stops and aim for the final straight. Dani & Vincent, Samba Quite a static Samba routine from these two this week, but what
As the winter days shorten it makes more sense to enjoy local walks like this one. From the car park, turn right along an obvious and substantial track leading to Waterman’s Cottage, which was built in 1897. Be sure to bear sharp left and ascend
An offering which will always be associated with curry houses, it has to be served ice cold and is best with hot food.
For less than £7 here’s a plummy French red with smooth tannins from a 14th century estate just over 30 miles from Bordeaux. The area’s usual blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes are in evidence and the label says 14 per cent alcohol but
Yes, it’s a white from the Marlborough region of New Zealand and it is also Sauvignon Blanc — hardly a surprise. But there’s a reason why we see so much of this grape from the Kiwis. Quite simply it is lovely stuff, full of gooseberry and grapefruit
DARWEN is a hotbed of cafes, so you would assume they have to be up to scratch to remain competitive. I was meeting a contact for lunch (not as glamorous as it sounds!), and he suggested Oliver’s Coffee House in Market Street, just across the road
A MEETING to discuss ways to stop speeding at a Darwen death crash site will take place this week. Four people died in two separate car accidents in October 2011 and April this year at Bull Hill, leading to questions over whether the road was safe
A MISSING woman from Rossendale - who has not been seen for more than a week - has prompted a police appeal. Family and friends of Gemma Thomson, 21, from Newchurch, are concerned as she has not been seen since Thursday, November 15. The former
FOR Wendi Peters, a leading role in the ultimate Christmas musical is probably the best present she could have hoped for. Although the spectacular production which opens on Thursday at the Lowry in Salford Quays means Wendi will be on stage every
BURNLEY’S Salvation Army has launched its annual Christmas toy appeal. Shoppers can donate at Asda in Princess Way and at Costa Coffee in Tesco in Centenary Way until December 14.
BURNLEY brewery Moorhouse’s has revealed it sold over 500,000 extra pints last month compared to October 2011. The firm last year opened a new £4.2million site, complete with visitors’ centre and bistro, capable of producing over 1,000 barrels
WAYNE Craig Roberts, 32, of Dalton Street, Burnley, was remanded on bail for trial by town magistrates after denying entering the offices of Express Freight Solutions and stealing keys and paperwork.
FREE entry is being promised to a yuletide craft fair which is set to take place at Todmorden Town Hall, Burnley Road, next Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm each day.
BURNLEY’S parish church of St Peter’s raised around £1,700 at its recent Christmas market. Stalls and activites and tombolas all contributed to the figure, which was slightly down on last year’s total, according to organiser Kath Bill.
FRIENDS of Water Primary School, Burnley Road East, Water, raised £83 for school funds with a recent disco.
COWPE Sunday School will benefit to the tune of £300 after a fundraiser by residents in the tiny village. The money was donated by coffee morning organiser Pat Barrett.
BACUP Library is hosting a special Lancashire-themed quiz on November 28 to celebrate the county's history, people and produce. The free event takes place from 10am to 2pm.
A HOMEOWNER has applied to convert a house into six flats. Mr Alex Chen has applied to Rossendale Council for the work on the building in John Street, Haslingden.
COWPE Community Hall will host a Christmas luncheon club on December 5. There will be musical entertainment and anyone interested in booking a table should contact Ann Elmer on 01706 224461.
ROSSENDALE Council’s green belt and urban boundary review consultation will visit Whitworth this week. The plans will be on show at the Co-operative shop in Thornylea from 4pm.
A NEW business is set to open on the site of the former Railway pub, Waterfoot. Work has begun on the Bacup Road building by Waterfoot Aquatics.
ROSSENDALE Valley Sounds and Rossendale Community Choir will team up for a charity concert at Haslingden Primary School on December 7. It takes place from 7.30pm and proceeds will be donated to Save the Children.
VALLEY residents interested in becoming a county councillor at next year’s election in May can begin to express their interest. For an information pack, call Joanne Smith at Rossendale Council on 01706 252445.
A SPECIAL school in Haslingden has been chosen as the official charity of an East Lancashire golf club for the second year running. Last year, members of Rossendale Golf Club raised £1,000 for Tor View Community Special School. Club captain
HYNDBURN MP Graham Jones has asked Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Maria Miller ‘whether she has contingency funds available if funding is insufficient to compensate everyone whose television reception is affected by the launch
TAI CHI classes in East Lancashire are blossoming after a succession of grants. Lighthouse Tai Chi now gives lessons to more than 250 people a week in Rossendale. Bacup-based charity REAL helped them gain a second Small Sparks grant to develop
PUPILS from a Knuzden primary school will sing at a lunchtime carol concert on December 5. The service is at Blackburn Cathedral from 1pm and will feature singers from St Oswald’s Primary School.
A COMMUNITY Alcohol Partnership is to be relaunched in Longridge on December 7. Lancashrie Trading Standards, in partnership with the Police, are leading the scheme, which has already been put in place in Clitheroe. The initiative aims to pick
A CAROL service by Lancashire Fire and Rescue will be held in Blackburn on December 5. The annual celebration is to take place at the town’s cathedral from 7.30pm to 9pm. Everybody is welcome.
ACCRINGTON and District Blind Society will hold two open days on November 29 and 30. The group, which also covers Haslingden and Helmshore, opens the doors of its building in Banks Street, Accrington, from 11am to 3pm both days.
MEMBERS of Rimington Women’s Institute enjoyed traditional afternoon tea at the offices of Child Action Northwest in Wilpshire. The 16 ladies also earned about the history of the building. For information about organising a group visit, ring
MARK Andrew Smith, 37, of Exchange Street, Accrington, was fined £220 with £107 costs by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to possessing a snap bag of cocaine.
FIREFIGHTERS in Hyndburn had to attend a rubbish fire on Saturday evening. A crew from Accrington station tackled the blaze at the rear of the GM Carpets site, Whinney Hill Road, Altham, at around 5.15pm, using a hose reel.
THE next meeting of the Accrington Camera Club is on Friday at 7.45pm at Rishton Primetime, with a presentation from the Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union.
THE mayor and mayoress of Hyndburn, Councillor John Broadley and wife Jean, will attend an open day of the Accrington Blind Society headquarters. The event is taking place on Thursday from 11am at the Bank Street centre. For details about the society
JAMIE Alexander Barclay, 18, of Warwick Close, Church, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months by Blackburn magistrates when he pleaded guilty to stealing two DVDs and a Wii controller from Asda and going equipped for theft with a foil lined
A COURAGEOUS youngster, who is on his way to raising £20,000 for charity, turned on Accrington’s Christmas lights. Three-year-old Finley Rosbotham was born with such severe cerebral palsy that his parents were told he would never even crawl or
PUPILS at a Church primary school were given 200 reflective bands to promote the message of road safety. Children at St Nicholas’ Primary School, off Dill Hall Lane, were visited by police community support officers, who handed out the reflectors
A NEW pavilion in a Ribble Valley village has been officially opened with a weekend of celebrations. The £350,000 Grindleton Pavilion replaces dilapidated facilities on Grindleton Recreation Ground and includes new changing rooms, showers, toilets
HUNDREDS of decorative tiles on the Church Street frontage of the Mall shopping centre in Blackburn may never be replaced after two fell into the thoroughfare within weeks. They were removed in September after the second crashed 40 feet onto the
A DRUNKEN man who swiped the glasses off a table in an Accrington bar was arrested for assault. Blackburn magistrates heard that a glass flew into the face of Sarah Jane Marshall and chipped one of her teeth. And Imran Hussain, defending Ryan
A TALENTED East Lancs songbird is set to star with X Factor winner Shayne Ward to headline a charity concert in Manchester. Rawtenstall teenager Grace O’Malley will perform with the chart-topper for a North West Air Ambulance carol service at Manchester
BLACKBURN Rovers fans gathered for the official launch of a supporters’ trust which is hoping to be able to buy the club from Venky’s. The Rovers Trust, backed by MPs and former players, has already raised £3million from fans buying shares.
CONCERNS have been raised over plans for a major North West fire control room for nearly a decade. The scheme, which will see all emergency fire calls fielded at a new HQ in Warrington, should have opened years ago and was first planned in 2004
I AM tired of having to justify the small concessions the disabled get in trying to run their lives as ordinary fit people do. For most disabled and their carers, every day is a struggle. Having cared for my disabled daughter every day for over
Anyone with an ASBO, community service etc should be made to tend to areas like the overgrown graveyard (LT, November 23). War heroes should never be left to rest in such an awful state. Fire Fly (via website).
Regarding your editorial comment that the Church is outdated. Can I remind you that it is actually the Bible that clearly states that there should be no women bishops in the Church. As such, there actually shouldn’t be any need for a vote by the
Unemployment? Just look in any newspaper and there are hundreds of jobs advertised. Some people just don’t want to work. Working class going to university now means we will be short of skilled labour, whilst graduates go on benefits because
With the cutback in student numbers, there was a risk that the rising number of applications from students with a working class background would mean that there were not enough places for all the Tarquins and Jemimas. The policy has obviously been
REGARDING Marsden Old Hall making a comeback as a forest school (LT, November 21), it’s a shame such a lovely old building wasn’t used as an art gallery and cafe for the people who use the park, not used for children who won’t appreciate it. The
AFC Darwen took their fine league form in to the divisional cup to book their place in the third round. The NWCL Division One leaders entertained an Oldham Boro side in top form themselves having lost just one of the last four fixtures. And in James
A £38,000 benefits cheat who struck over about five years has walked free from court. Jacqueline Nankunda, 26,of Kingsbury Place, Burnley, had admitted five allegations of failing to promptly notify a change in circumstances and one count of making
CONTROVERSIAL charges for community and voluntary groups using county council premises are set to be reviewed following a rash of protests. Opponents claimed there was a lack of consultation over proposals to introduce charges for clubs and community
WITH reference to the story about the man and his son almost hit by a car on leaving the pavement in Darwen (LT, November 20) – pavements are meant to be for the public; roads are meant for cars. There is obviously a boundary to be drawn about
GRAHAM and Brown wallpaper manufacturer has applied to Blackburn with Darwen Council for permission to erect three flag poles at its India Mill site, in Harwood Street, Blackburn.
DEMONSTRATORS gathered in a Whalley field to protest against a controversial planning application. Around 100 villagers with posters and placards met at the site, in Mitton Road, to express their anger about the proposals for 116 new homes.
NEW figures show the number of 16 to 18-year-olds starting apprenticeships in the North West has fallen by 14per cent. There were 3,330 fewer places created in the region in 2011/12 compared to 2010/2011. Numbers also fell in six other regions,
P&M Chartered Accountants are running a free strategic seminar for families in business at their office on Greenbank Technology Park, Challenge Way, Blackburn, tomorrow from 8.30am to 10am. Topics include what makes a family business successful
AROUND 70 students from the University Centre at Blackburn College were put through their paces at a mini “business boot camp” as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week run by Regenerate Pennine Lancashire and one of its business partners, Winning Pitch
BUSINESSES are being urged to ensure their online security is up to date after hackers tried to steal thousands of pounds of goods. Two businesses discovered hackers had changed the online value of their goods to 1p before trying to buy the items
A DARWEN company has strengthened its management team following the launch of its new training facility. Bglobal Metering is the UK’s leading smart metering company, and offers a range of energy management and smart metering solutions to give homes
GROWTH in convenience retail and fast food sales boosted revenues at Blackburn-based Euro Garages, who run service stations and associated franchises. Latest annual trading figures showed sales for the Beehive Trading Park-based group rose three
The first few days of November 2012 gave us a period of quite hard frost. The temperature was beg-inning to drop as I set off for an evening walk through a woodland near Huncoat. What I did not expect to see were hundreds of bats. I thought
CHILDREN from Accrington Academy have met with the Chief Crown Prosecutor to discuss cyber bullying and how it is policed. The special youth panel event was organised as part of Children’s Commissioner’s Takeover Day 2012 and gave pupils the chance
LANCASHIRE County Council's Tim Ashton is back at work after he temporarily stepped down from his duties due to his commitments as a candidate in Lancashire's police and crime commissioner elections. County Coun Ashton has now returned to his post
AN event manager mismanaged his taxi home and ended up being breathalysed. Blackburn magistrates heard Marco Vaghetti left his car in Whalley and took a taxi but after collecting a meal from McDonalds the driver demanded payment up front. They
EDENFIELD Parish Church is preparing for its first Christmas Tree Festival. It runs from November 30 to December 2 at the Market Street church, with exhibits from a host of village organisations. Churchwarden David Foster said the church had
ENTERPRISING pupils from four Rossendale primary schools have joined forces with students at Alder Grange Community and Technology School to create their very own Christmas gifts. Talented year 5 and 6 pupils from Crawshawbooth Primary School,
“I’VE just has one of the most awful afternoons,” my neighbour told me after a visit to the cinema. “We went to see Rust and Bone but it had finished so we saw something else instead,” she told me. She’s in her eighties, and from the look on
EAST Lancashire residents are being given the opportunity to ‘be a Santa’ this Christmas. At-home care company Home Instead Senior Care, which is based in Blackburn but looks after clients across East Lancashire, is looking for people to donate
A BUSY Colne road will be closed for almost 12 hours a day for a week in December. Langroyd Road, which links the A6068 through the town with Skipton Road, is to be shut between 7.30am and 5pm from December 2 to December 9. The 190m stretch
A BUILDER who ignored warnings to stop working on a ‘dangerous’ 20-foot scaffolding tower has been hit with a £2,000 legal bill. Jack Sanderson was ordered down from the tower, above shops in Burnley Road, Bacup, by a Health and Safety Executive
PENDLE MP Andrew Stephenson has called on local charities working in developing countries to apply for funding from the Government. He said he had been contacted by Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening MP, who has
TYPE ‘Munich’ into Google and it’s no real surprise that Oktoberfest is one of the first items to come up. It’s not difficult to see why when six million people from all over Europe descend on the city every year for a month-long beer bonanza.
RESIDENTS at a Pendle nursing home will be treated to a concert from a top African musician this week. Margaret Ferguson, known as Africa’s Lady of Song, will sing at Dercliffe Care Home in Juno Street in Nelson on Friday. The event was arranged
PENDLE Mayor Asjad Mahmood lit up Nelson this weekend by switching on the town’s Christmas lights. Coun Mahmood said he was “honoured” to officially launch this year’s festivities. Artist David Boultbee also provided thousands of lanterns to
A LARGE fire at a terraced house is thought to have started because it was used as a cannabis factory. The blaze, which wrecked the roof, also spread to the two neighbouring properties which had to be evacuated. Firefighters were called to
Rovers boss Henning Berg was left to rue a controversial refereeing decision as Millwall took three points at Ewood Park. Referee Eddie Ilderton pulled play back for a Rovers free kick for a foul on Mauro Formica when Jordan Rhodes was bearing down on
Chorley suffered a cruel late blow in an enthralling game at Victory Park. The luckless Magpies hit the crossbar three times before a wonder strike from a free-kick three minutes from time settled a thrilling cut-and-thrust encounter, Matthew Tierney
BURNLEY manager Sean Dyche believes his players are showing the mental toughness required to become a Championship force to be reckoned with. Key refereeing decisions had proved costly for the Clarets in their previous two games, which resulted in defeats
A KNIFEMAN who terrorised a nurse on a disused railway track in the early hours, has been jailed for six months. Burnley Crown Court heard how drunken David Harrington, 24, had earlier been attacked on a night out and had armed himself with two
BRENT Peters has urged his players to tighten up at the back and find that killer touch in front of goal as they slipped to a second straight defeat, shipping nine goals in to the process. Following Tuesday’s 6-0 defeat against Colne, Bacup conceded
AN eleventh-hour plea has been issued by union bosses in Lancashire over much-maligned plans to open a North West fire control centre. Fire Brigade Union leaders claim staffing at the unified HQ, in Warrington, due to go live in early 2014, is
THIS is the sight that greets Howard Hudson every time he walks into his backyard. As he peers over his wall he is confronted by an ‘ocean’ of plastic recycling waste. Mr Hudson said: “It is an absolute disgrace, it looks really awful. I can
LEAM Richardson was full of praise for his players after Accrington Stanley maintained their unbeaten record against League Two’s top sides with a point against Gillingham. Stanley came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to the league leaders on Saturday
KRISTIAN Dennis single-handedly wrecked Ramsbottom’s hopes as he scored all four goals in Curzon Ashton’s 4-3 victory. Grant Spencer gave the Rams a fourth minute lead but a 19-minute first half hat-trick by Dennis put Curzon in charge. Lee Gaskell
CHRIS Mason and Scott Bakkor scored their first goals for Clitheroe as Paul Moore’s side won for the fourth match in succession. Despite creating a number of good chances, the Blues were made to work for their victory by a combative Prescot Cables who
A WOMAN is seriously ill in hospital after setting fire to herself in a park. She suffered 45 per cent burns and is now being treated at a specialist unit in Manchester after the early morning incident at Alkincoats Park in Colne. Dog walker
CUSTOMERS who purchase electronic money vouchers are being warned about becoming victims of cold caller fraudsters. Police have received reports of residents receiving unsolicited phone calls, where the caller offers the victim a lump sum.
HIGH-scoring Barnoldswick were caught cold as two early goals sealed victory for Congleton. Barlick, who have netted 16 goals in a three-match winning run, never recovered from conceding two goals in the opening 16 minutes. Matthew Worrall put Congleton
HIGH-flying Abbey Hey just had too much for Nelson as their First Division Trophy hopes were ended in the second round. First half goals from Paul Smith and Liam were good enough to book second-placed Hey a place in the third round. Smith opened the
TWO of the two teams in the NWCL Premier Division clashed at XLCR Stadium and it lived up to the expectation. Colne, unbeaten in their last 10 games, knew victory would take them to just one point behind the leaders Maine Road – and the Reds started
Flooding caused problems on the A56 near Ramsbottom this morning. Manchester Road was closed to traffic between Bury New Road and junction 1 of the M66. The road has now reopened. Is there flooding where you are? Call our newsdesk on 01254
PAULA Walker maintained her impressive start to the Bobsleigh World Cup with a sixth place finish on the notorious Whistler course in Canada. The 25-year-old from Blackburn crashed twice during practice but was on top form to seal her second sixth spot
HIGHWAY bosses are hopful that a new government shake-up will help to reduce a £12million compensation bill for crashes, slips and trips in Lancashire. County roads chiefs have paid out more than £3.4million, in recent years, for public liability
PROTESTS relating to recent events in Gaza passed peacefully yesterday, police said. Hundreds of demonstrators met at Whalley Range, Blackburn, before making their way to Corporation Park for speeches. Men, women and children joined in the
DEAN Marney believes Burnley have what it takes to mount a promotion push, after scoring the winner against his old club. The midfielder’s first half strike was enough to earn a first away win under new boss Sean Dyche at high flying Hull City.
Rovers boss Henning Berg insists if his side can become more clinical there will be plenty of positives this season. Blackburn were beaten by 2-0 by Millwall on Saturday to drop out of the Championship play-off places but Berg believes his side
A FAMILY was awoken by their smoke alarm after a washing machine caught fire in the middle of the night. The fire in Acre Avenue, Stacksteads, caused severe smoke damage to the house. The family got out safely, but a woman suffered smoke inhalation
