TWO men died in a three-car-collision on the M65 early on Saturday morning sparking renewed calls for motorway lighting to be switched back on. Best friends Mohammed Iqbal and Mazafer Iqbal were travelling home along the eastbound carriageway when
A WOMAN who has returned to Darwen 50 years after emigrating to Australia has written a letter to the council complaining at the state of the town. Carol Wood left Darwen in 1964 when she was just 14 years old because her dad became one of the
YOUNGSTERS at a Clitheroe school are appealing for donations of old bikes and parts as they gear up to launch a new social enterprise. Pupils at Ribblesdale High School are calling on residents to donate their unused bicycles so they can be fixed
AN East Lancashire spa has notched up sales of more than £1million in its first year of operating. Year-end figures have been revealed by bosses at Crow Wood Leisure which demonstrate a hugely successful period for the Burnley-bases business.
A SCHOOL in Stacksteads has started its summer holidays with good news from Ofsted. St Joseph’s RC Primary School is celebrating being lifted from ‘requires improvement’, following an inspection by the education watchdog in October, to ‘good’ after
RESIDENT’S have spoken out over a dangerous road that has been described as ‘Sabden’s motorway’. They took to Facebook to voice their concerns over Clitheroe Road and have called on the police to look into the issue. The comments were made
WHEN businesswoman Sarah Southworth looks back on the woman she was 20 years ago, she feels sorry for her. Her partner became depressed and committed suicide leaving her with two sons, aged three and four. She had no family or friends around
THOUSANDS of people descended on Blackburn’s Rocket Centre for it’s 10th annual open day. Motorbike enthusiasts from across the country went to the Trident Way store on Saturday Superbike racers Chris Walker, Sylvain Guintoli, Adam Jenkinson and
What is it about sisters that causes them to love and hate each other at the same time? This Sunday is National Sisters’ Day, causing me to ponder the question. I’m five years older than my sister, and to this day I remain convinced that she
TWO hundred jobs look set to be created as a second occupier signs up to the Burnley Bridge business park development in Hapton. The latest announcement says that the second tenant will occupy a 400,000 sq ft site and is set to be bring £30million
LANCASHIRE Police are asking members of the Asian community to celebrate safely during the religious holiday of Eid. Chief Supt Stuart Noble said: “We want those celebrating Eid to have a crime free and happy celebratio. “So we are asking people
NHS chiefs have asked elderly patients to give their views on health and social care, ahead of moves to reduce the number of admissions to East Lancashire’s hospitals. East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) wants more patients with
PROPOSALS from MPs to step-up action to tackle ‘sham marriages’ have been welcomed following as string of trials in East Lancashire. The Commons Home Affairs Committee demanded new powers for registrars to stop suspicious weddings and better training
THIS is not something you see every day! Super dogs in capes descending on Blackburn’s Witton Park. But yesterday scores of four legged friends and their owners made a special trip to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Walkers and
A RAINBOWS group in Mellor is searching for more volunteers. 1st Mellor Rainbows is looking for people to help out at every week or at the odd meeting.
MELLOR Parish Council meets on the first Thursday of the month in the Methodist church from 7pm. The public are welcome and time is allowed at the beginning of the meetings for issues and questions.
THE Mellor Snow Angels are appealing for volunteers to get involved in preparation for next winter. The team exist to help clear now in the village from ‘priority areas’ when the need arises. For more information call Bernard Murtagh on 0773885659
TRAINING for Blackburn Rugby Club has started ahead of the first team’s first competitive match. It runs every Tuesday and Thursday. There will be a pre-season match on Saturday, August 16, and Saturday, August 23. The first team will have
ST OSWALD’S Church Thursday Holiday Club has been given £600 by the district’s Big Lottery fund to put on a breakfast for children and families every Thursday morning at the church. Meet from 9.30am to enjoy breakfast together and do joint activities
SHADSWORTH leisure centre is encouraging people to work towards or set new goals through fitness classes. Classes are £5.55 each or £15 for unlimited classes throughout a month. There’s a massive range, from insanity workouts, to spinning,
ST STEPHEN’S Church holds a community cafe every Tuesday in its newly refurbished kitchen and leisure rooms. All are welcome at the cafe, which runs on Tuesday from 10am-1pm and Wednesday 11am-1pm. Organisers say refreshments, friendship and
ST PAUL'S Methodist Church, Higher Audley Street, has given advance notice of a concert later this year. Music and words for Advent by Semibreve will be on Saturday, November 29, starting at 7.30 pm Semibreve, a quartet of singers from Bolton,
ST Matthew’s CE Primary held a Speedmark fundraising event to see who could kick a football the hardest. Julian Rogers, headteacher, said: “Congratulations to Hamza Iqbal for the fastest shot at goal – 44mph, and to Mr Ulhaq for the fastest member
MILL Hill Community centre will be holding a fun day on the Saturday, August 16 from 11am - 3pm. Anyone wishing to participate should contact the centre on 01254 673066.
IMPROVEMENTS will be carried out at St Aidan’s Primary School over the holidays. These include a full refurbishment of the Key Stage 2 toilets, a new heating system in Key Stage 2, installation of a fibre-optic back bone, to allow for super-fast
THE final pre-season game at the WEC Group Anchor Ground will see AFC Darwen Reserves take on Padiham Reserves on Monday, August 4. Kick-off will be at 7pm.
DARWEN councillor Dave Smith has quashed rumours that The Wellington Bar, formerly Darwen Catholic Club, in Wellington Fold, Darwen, has closed — although the building remains up for sale. Coun Smith said: “We will continue to run it as a bar until
PINK tribute act Alecia Karr, the only tribute to meet and sing to the star in person, performs live at the Prince of Wales in Quaker Lane, Darwen, on Saturday from 8.30pm. Tickets cost £10.
THE next meeting of the Blackburn and East Lancashire breast care support group will be held at The Beardwood Hospital, Preston New Road on Tuesday, August 5 from 7pm-9pm when Julie Mason will speak on the subject of "Breast cancer - some historical
THE next Ewood police community meeting will take place on Monday, August 18 at Greenfields Community Centre, Green Lane beginning at 6.30pm. Current priorities include burglaries and car break-ins in the Livesey Branch Road area.
THERE will be a fun-day on Friday, August 8 at Livesey Children And All Age Centre on Andrew Close. Come along and help raise much needed funds for your local children's centres. Money raised will help towards activities at Livesey Centre,
ST STEPHEN’S CE Primary School children took part in ‘My Money Week’, which has a theme of citizenship and community, developing knowledge of the workplace to inspire children. The school asked local workers to talk to the children about their
Children from St Matthew’s CE Primary school received awards at the end of year prizegiving service. Children from each class were chosen to receive progress certificates. The children with best attendance in each class were also named and
BOSSES at St Paul’s Primary School in Baynes Street, Hoddlesden, have submitted a planning application to install a new link corridor, replace glazed window units and install new emergency escape doors.
NEW seven-metre high posts with ball stop netting will be erected around the all-weather sports pitch at Darwen Youth Centre in Knott Street in a bid to stop balls damaging neighbouring properties. Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee
BURNLEY schoolchildren joined residents of a local sheltered housing scheme for a special event to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First World War. Children from Wellfield Church School and Whittlefield Primary School visited Calico
DARWEN MP Jake Berry will be quizzed by councillors at a meeting of Darwen Town Council on August 5. Also on the agenda are Darwen Dance Live, Darwen Pedal Car Grand Prix and Darwen Day, and the commemoration of the town’s fallen soldiers.
CHURCHGOERS in Cliviger have raised £1,000 for Pendleside Hospice with a fundraising meal at a Burnley restaurant. Kath Rhodes, Sue Ashby-Smith and her husband Martin, who attend the Mount Zion Baptist Church, staged the gathering at Bertram’s,
PARENTS are being invited to encourage their children to take part in reading activities being held across Burnley throughout the summer. A Burnley Council spokeswoman said: “Encourage your kids to join the Summer Reading Challenge and find out
Lowerhouse bowling club team players Pauline and David Ashworth bowled well all day and out of an entry of 32 couples they won through to reach the finals of the Salesbury mixed pairs bowling competition last week. They were beaten in the final
Rosegrove library staff are inviting residents to discover their family history on Monday August, 4 from 9.30am until 11.30am.
Children and staff at Rosegrove infant school said farewell to Mrs Campbell, who has been at the school for over 32 years. She worked there as a governor, volunteer, teaching assistant and out of school club assistant. She was presented with
A recent concert held at Padiham Unitarian Chapel raised £1,150 for the Prostate Scanner Appeal for Burnley General Hospital. Entertainment was provided by the Rossendale Scout Band and soprano Grace O'Malley.
ON Friday August 1, the third annual five-mile Jubilee Challenge Race for people of all abilities will take place, starting at the fountain the the park, at 7pm. Registration is from 6pm at Padiham Football Club.
Padiham Library is introducing children to a world of legend and mythology to keep them reading during the summer holidays. There are incentives, rewards and a certificate for every child who completes the challenge. Children can sign up at
A MUSICAL memory group organised by Age UK Lancashire takes place at the Walton Lane Day Care Centre, in Leeds Road, Nelson, on Tuesday from 2pm to 3.30pm. For more details call 01282 447030.
ORGANISERS of the recent community skip at Greenbrook Methodist church car park say they would like to apologise to any resident who had a leaflet delivered through their door with the incorrect date of August on it. The next skip will be on the
THE annual Padiham Sports Week starts on Wednesday 30 July, the first event being a football match between the touring American football team, Honolulu Galaxy, and Padiham FC Youth team, at the Arbories Memorial Ground at 7pm.
Padiham Primary School’s netball team recently played in the Lancashire Schools’ Finals in Blackpool and came third in the competition. A spokesman from the school stated that the children were representing Burnley Borough and the team did their
PENDLE MP Andrew Stephenson has raised concerns about the impact road works to the M65 are having on local businesses, after hearing how trade is down just days after work begun. The works to improve safety barriers began on July 21 and are expected
ADULT football team, North Valley Rangers, are looking for a new goalkeeper and other players to join them for the upcoming season. The Colne based team plays in the Pendle Charity League on Sunday mornings at 10.30am. To join, or for more
A DROP-IN cafe event organised by the Southfield Area Residents Association takes place on Tuesday, from 11.30am, at Nelson Baptist Church, in Woodlands Road. The event features a variety of social activities as well as refreshments.
RESIDENTS in the Marsden and Southfield areas of Nelson can meet their neighbourhood police team at a PACT meeting on Tuesday, August 5, from 7pm, at the Williams Hall All Age Centre, in Barkerhouse Road.
STUDENTS at Colne Primet Academy were treated to a performance by band, Arizona, as part of their tour of the north west’s schools and colleges. The four girls in the band – Grace O’Malley, Jess Howarth, Jess Watts and Sophie Wooding, from Alder
NELSON Brass Band is appealing for new members to join in with its rehearsals every Monday, from 8pm, at Calder Mill, in Lenches Road, Colne.
A DROP-IN play session for children under five years of age and their families takes place every Tuesday at Colne Children’s Centre, in Walton Street. The event costs £1 per family and runs from 1.30pm to 3pm.
A FUN session featuring songs and music for babies under two years of age takes place on Monday, from 9.30am, at the Methodist Church, in Gisburn Road, Barrowford.
A 52-YEAR-OLD man was knocked off his bike as he cycled in Oswaldtwistle. The collision with a white-coloured vehicle happened as he rode along Haslingden Old Road near to De Nero’s restaurant. The driver of the vehicle stopped a short distance
POLICE are set to target antisocial behaviour in the Spring Hill ward of Accrington. They said residents in Slaidburn Drive, Richmond Road and Wordsworth Drive had reported problems.
THE Accrington Camera Club is now closed for the summer holidays. The group’s next session will take place on September 5 from 7.45pm at the Prime Time Centre at Norden High School, in Stourton Street, Rishton.
TWENTY of East Lancashire’s best-loved parks have been awarded ‘Green Flag’ status – an accolade reserved only for the best green spaces in the country. Eight parks in Pendle, five in Burnley and seven in Hyndburn have all been handed the national
PADIHAM were the winners of the inaugural ACCROSS Tournament held at Victoria Park over the weekend – an event that included four East Lancashire clubs. In Saturday’s semi finals, Padiham beat hosts Nelson 2-0 while AFC Darwen came out on top in a seven-goal
JAMES Beattie believes that Accrington Stanley’s performance against neighbours Blackburn and Burnley augur well for their League Two campaign. Three days after drawing 2-2 with Rovers the Reds were narrowly beaten by Burnley in another home game but
PARKING issues on a stretch of road where a man was knocked down need to be resolved to stop a ‘potential fatality’, a councillor has warned. Coun Tim O’Kane, who represents Clayton-le-Moors, said the problems on the hill near the Conservative
HYNDBURN Leisure centre will host a gymnastics workshop for children aged four to six today Coaches will lead the session, which costs £6, from 10am until 11.55am. To book a place, call 01254 385945.
RESIDENTS and those working in Accrington town centre can discuss issues they have at a meeting with police tomorrow. The session is in the foyer at Tesco, in Eagle Street, from 10am.
HYNDBURN Leisure is offering Kids Swim sessions for just £1 throughout the summer holidays with inflatable fun and mad splash attractions and week-long crash course swimming lessons for three years and over for £15.
A CELEBRATION of Russian music will be held by Ramsbottom Recorded Music Society on Thursday. Gwen Rothwell will deliver a presentation at Christ Church and Neighbourhood Centre in Great Eaves Road. The evening runs from 7.30pm to 9.45pm and admission
RUNNERS are being sought for the three-legged race run by Peel Lions on Saturday, August 19. The race starts at noon and participants are asked to meet at the Waggon and Horses in Hawkshaw at 11.30am. People are asked to contribute half of
FIRE crews were called to a small grass fire in Lea Bank, Rawtenstall, at 3.44am on Saturday morning.
TACKLING the theft of stones in Baxenden has become a main priority for police in the area. They plan to step up patrols to stop the issue in the Woodnook area.
AN EVENING of training by the Positive About Autism group is to take place at an Accrington church. The aim of the session on Thursday is to help churches welcome people with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. The class will be held at Trinity
AN application for outline planning permission to build two houses in Clitheroe has been submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council. The plan from Clitheroe-based AJH Associates relates to land in Chapel Close, in the Low Moor area.
THE organisers of Sabden’s Christmas Market have announced that it will return this year. The event was first held last year and was a success. It will be held on Sunday, December 14, from 3pm in St Mary’s Community Hall in Whalley Road.
SAMLESBURY Hall is to hold a wedding open evening in September. The Whitaker Room will be set for a ceremony with a singer and harpist, the Parlour will host a drinks reception and the Great Hall will be set for a wedding breakfast. It is on
A SURVEY to find out people’s views on treatment room services across the Valley has been launched by the East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group. The services are available to patients at various health centre locations throughout Rossendale
AN OPEN day will be held at Ramsbottom Fire Station on August 10. The event at the station in Stubbins Lane will include a display of vintage fire engines, live music, an inflatable pirate ship and model car racing. The event runs from 10am to 4pm.
A CRICKET club in Summerseat wants youngsters to take part in training sessions. Brooksbottom Cricket Club offers coaching for girls and boys aged six to 12 every Monday night, and welcomes children of any ability. The sessions run from 6.15pm
STAFF at a Chorley car dealership celebrated a major milestone in the company’s history with a surprise party for the firm’s founder and managing director. Andy Turner, founder of the Chorley Group, which has a branch in Burnley, was left ‘speechless
ONE-to-one help to quit smoking will be offered at Pendleview Medical Centre in Brierfield, from 9am to 12 noon tomorrow. For details call 01254 283370 or 0800 3286297.
ALAN Pickard, 43, of Casterton Avenue, Burnley, is facing trial before Burnley magistrates, after denying vehicle interference in the town on July 7. He was bailed until September 2.
A 24-year-old has been found not guilty of committing a public order offence during a court hearing for the killer of Jayden Parkinson. Ryan McCann, of Royal Berkshire Court, Didcot, was cleared of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour
THE Ribble Valley is set to host a music festival from Friday. The three-day Cloudspotting Festival will be being staged in Stephen Park, Gisburn Forest in Slaidburn, running from Friday, August 1. It will feature a wide-range of acts including
FIREFIGHTERS were called to a small grass blaze in Cleveland Street, Colne, on Saturday evening.
A MUSICAL mum and baby session is at the Methodist Church in Gisburn Road, Barrowford, today from 9.30am. ‘Tiny Trumpets’ is for babies aged up to two that incorporates traditional songs and simple instruments as well as singing and story-telling through
A shoplifter with 160 offences stole cheese worth £10.50 from Marks and Spencer. Dawn Christie, 46, of Penistone Street, Burnley, had fallen on hard times, magistrates were told. She admitted theft and was given a six-week 5pm to 5am daily curfew.
FIREFIGHTERS dealt with a burning wheelie bin in Regent Street, Nelson. Crews were called at around 3.30pm and used a hose reel to put the blaze out. The fire on Friday is thought to have been deliberate. Crew manager Nigel Greenwood said
A PLAN to erect 28 houses in Gisburn has been refused. Ribble Valley Borough Council made the decision on applicant Guy Hindley’s plan on Thursday. It related to land in Mill Lane.
A TABLE top sale is set to be held in Waddington in September. The village hall in Clitheroe Road will host the event. It will be staged on Sunday, September 28, throughout the day. For more information call 01200 423140.
STORYTELLER Sue Allonby will be reading children’s tales at Hoghton Tower on Thursday, from 11am to 2pm. Tickets for the event are £2.
TOWNELEY Park’s running club will continue today, from 6pm. The class is open to beginners and improvers and is lead by a qualified coach. Sessions are a £1 donation to charity and usually last about 45 minutes. The group will meet at Riverside
HOGHTON Tower will host an ‘unusual plant fair’ in the last week of August, including free demonstrations and gardeners’ question and answer sessions. The event will run from 11am to 4pm from August 24 to 31 and admission is free. Parking costs
PLANS to switch an office building in Sabden to be used as a nursery have been submitted to Ribble Valley Council. The plans to change the use of Falcon House, in Whalley Road, have been submitted by Mr Collinson, of Wesley Street.
A FORMER Clitheroe hair salon could be set to be converted into a cafe if plans are approved later this year. The premises in Victoria Street, which Eclipse Hair and Nail Salon vacated six months ago. The business has now located in King Lane
MEMBERS of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust were given the opportunity to enhance their computer skills at a beginners’ workshop. Governors and volunteers were also invited to the session earlier this month, to improve their knowledge of the
LANCASHIRE’S police and crime commissioner has welcomed a pilot scheme offering more protection to domestic abuse victims. It comes after officers were given more powers to apply to the courts for those arrested to be made to stay away from their
RESIDENTS across East Lancashire are set to take part in the national ‘Lights Out’ event to commemorate the start of the First World War. The event has been inspired by the then Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey’s remark: “The lamps are going out
Tinpot Hut Pinot Noir 2011, £14.99, www.slurp.co.uk, www.winedirect.co.uk, www.nzhouseofwine.co.uk In Britain tinpot means cheap or inferior but so it wouldn’t be the first name choice for many makers of a consumer product. But neither definition
AN East Lancashire telecoms company is creating 20 jobs at its call centre to cope with growing demand for its services. New Call Telecom, based on the Lomeshaye industrial estate in Nelson, has announced a recruitment drive meaning its workforce
A Haslingden businessman who launched the award-winning Real Lancashire Black Pudding Company will be sharing his recipe for success at an upcoming business network event. Andy Holt, the ‘King of the Black Puddings’, will be the guest speaker at the
FIVE fire crews battled a blaze in Haslingden for almost six hours on Saturday morning. The fire, at Spout House Farm, Cribden Lane, off Laund Lane, started in an outbuilding in the early hours of the morning and quickly spread to the house and
A REVIEW of Blackburn with Darwen’s system for granting residents-only parking orders has been launched. Officials are preparing new guidelines for how and where the restrictions should be introduced following growing numbers of applications from
A JEALOUS sales operative changed his partner’s sickness email to her boss, telling him she wasn’t going in work because she was a horrible cheat, a court heard. Apprentice Ryan James Simpson, 21, then grabbed Natasha Curran around the neck and
A TOP engineer caught more than three times the drink drive limit in his Audi TT by police, has been ordered off the road for 28 months. Burnley magistrates heard how Philip Michael Mason, 48, appeared to accelerate away when officers saw him on
PENDLE is set to become the first borough in Lancashire to install free WiFi in its town centres. Council bosses said the move would further secure the future of its high streets and would benefit shopkeepers, shoppers and on-the-move workers.
Joanne Pickering of Chamber member, Forbes Solicitors has been invited to become a North West Ambassador for the National Apprenticeship Service. Joanne, Director of HR, Training & Quality at Forbes Solicitors, will act as an advocate of the National
CLARETS boss Sean Dyche is keen to make further additions to his Burnley squad – and could be about to move to Celtic’s big Nigerian Efe Ambrose. Dyche is keen to add to his Turf Moor squad ahead of the Premier League kick off against Chelsea next
BLACKBURN Rovers will assess Rudy Gestede before deciding whether the striker is well enough to make a 10,000-mile round trip to Malawi just days before the start of the new season. Gestede is due to depart on Wednesday to link up with the Benin
NIAMH Robinson produced the goods once more with another PB in the pool. The 14-year-old from Darwen, representing the Isle of Man, swam a best time in the 200m IM yesterday when she was seventh in her heat in 2mins 23.75secs. She was also eighth
LAURA Massaro will play Nicol David in the women’s squash final tonight after beating England team-mate Alison Waters 11-5, 12-14, 11-3, 11-8. The world champion from Hoghton faces the world number one in Glasgow.
SOPHIE Hitchon goes for gold in tonight’s hammer final after qualifying with her first throw. The Burnley-born star threw 65.31m with her first attempt.
TWO judo players who left East Lancashire in pursuit of glory enjoyed medal-winning success at the weekend. Faith Pitman from Todmorden and Andy Burns from Blackburn both won bronze medals in a packed SECC Hall. Pitman, 29 and 28-year-old Burns
TOM Hamer was quick to dedicate his performance to his parents after he broke the British record on the way to claiming silver in the men’s para-sport 200m freestyle at Glasgow 2014. One of three para-swimmers in England’s swimming squad for the
BIG Bash star Michael Neser wrote his name into Todmorden’s record books on Saturday – just a matter of hours after being called up for the Australia A team. Neser will board an aircraft home this morning after his call to international duty meaning
STACKSTEADS seconds celebrated long into Saturday night after they finally had something to cheer as the villagers claimed a first Houldsworth Solicitors Ribblesdale League Division One win in four years! The long-time whipping boys enjoyed their
LOWERHOUSE flexed their muscles at the top of the Foster’s Lancashire League yesterday as they brushed Nelson aside to make it 12 league wins on the spin. But the leaders remain under pressure from second-placed Ramsbottom, who are intent on taking
DARWEN professional George Linde scored a magnificent century – but the Towers hopes of a return to winning ways in the Chorley Building Society Northern League were dashed by a Kendal rearguard action on Saturday. Classy Linde, who has impressed
Every day we test your sporting knowledge with our just for fun ten to tackle... 1 Who notched 27 goals to finish the 2013-14 Scottish Premiership season as top scorer? 2 How old was Michelle Wie when she first qualified to play in a USGA amateur
John Gosden’s star filly Taghrooda maintained her unbeaten record in electric fashion, winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and BetVictor make her the 4/1 favourite for the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. She beat
Trainer Mark Johnston can enjoy a welcome boost on the eve of Glorious Goodwood with Polarisation set to make it third time lucky in the Play BetVictor Casino On Your Mobile Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Ayr. The Middleham maestro has built up
