JACK Straw is unlikely to be elevated to the House of Lords when the next wave of appointments are revealed after May’s general election, it is believed. The Blackburn MP was tipped to be nominated for a seat on the red benches once he had stepped
BOSSES at two East Lancashire firms have gone on trial accused of a £400,000 plant machinery scam using vehicles sourced from ‘Irish Jimmy’ and ‘Polish Pete’. Prosecutors allege Matthew Hartley and Ronald Goss were part of a plot which saw stolen
BACK in the 50s and 60s, if a girl wanted tummy control she turned to “Little X”. And as summer approached, a Telegraph advert urged women to take a look at the new Silhouette swimwear, which had a little X control. The new Lugano design, an
EVEN a busy film star who is up at 7am and on location until 7pm can manage to slip away for half an hour for her mum. In 1961, still wearing her farm girl’s outfit for her role as Kathy in Whistle Down the Wind, being filmed in Pendle, Hayley
TODAY we look back at the way we were and have a question at the same time. One of our readers is trying to identify this mayor of Blackburn and also wants to know what year he held office. David Burgess reckons the photograph was taken at
ACCRINGTON son Tommy ‘Two-Gun’ admitted he had been a gun fighting bootlegger in the days of prohibition in America. For Tommy, real name Chatburn, of Paradise Street, gang warfare and death were never far away from his door in the 1920s and early
SMOG made the headlines today, with East Lancashire folk warned to ensure they had masks on during the winter of 1959. The worst fog of the winter clamped down over the area this morning, mixing with the industrial smoke to create conditions which
SEQUENCE dancer, pigeon fancier and mechanic Colin Banyard, from Stanhill, is approaching his 90th birthday. After reading the stories of J and S Leaver in Bygones in recent weeks, he has told his own tale of working at the Blackburn garage at
PROM is one of the biggest nights in a young girl’s life, everything from the dress to the shoes to the hair and even the date has to be perfect. Which is why it is so surprising that such a large number of girls all go for the same style dress
THIS year Blackburn and Darwen Band is celebrating its 175th anniversary. Today we take a peep into its history and some of the people who have been members over the years, Back in 1840 the band was created as Darwen Temperance Band where each
FOOTBALL fans have always held a particular soft spot for the talented rogues that ply their trade playing the beautiful game. In my 50 years of following football, the names of Stan Bowles; Rodney Marsh; Frank Worthington; Gazza and, of course
AN EAST Lancashire company has hit back at the way its connection with Blackburn MP Jack Straw has been portrayed following the latest cash for access row. Accrington-based Senator International released a statement following the allegation that
GENEROUS folk have rallied round to help a homeless man whose belongings were burnt in a suspected arson attack. Firefighters were called to the former tax offices, on the corner of Eastgate and Water Street, in Accrington, at around 6.30am on
ALMOST £165,000 has been awarded to community groups in East Lancashire through the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards For All programme. More than £1.2million has been granted to 141 projects in the North West, with £164,231 of it coming to 18 different
A BLACKBURN charity collected more than 10 tonnes of food in a national drive to fight hunger. Tauheedul Charity, based in Eanam Wharf, organised its Food For All Day at 22 venues across the country, encouraging youngsters to donate food to those
A MUSIC festival is due to be held in Clitheroe next month. St Mary’s Church will host the event on Friday, March 20, from 7pm to 10pm. The Church Street venue will see performances from classical to rock and roll acts. Entry costs £10
MEMBERS of Read Parish Council will hold their latest monthly meeting today. The councillors will meet in the United Reformed Church in East View from 7pm. People are invited to address the Parish Council for 15 minutes before the start of
A WEDDING fair is due to take place at Samlesbury Hall next weekend. The event will be held on Saturday, March 7, from 11am to 4pm at the Preston New Road venue. A spokesman for the event said: “Get inspired by all the amazing local suppliers
GOVERNORS at a Ribble Valley school will meet today to interview candidates for a vacant headteacher post. Janet Malone retired as headteacher of St Mary’s RC Primary School in Langho at Christmas after being in the job for the past five years.
CONCERNS have been raised over a proposed caravan site on the outskirts of a Ribble Valley village. The application for a 21-pitch touring caravan site on land to the rear of the Petre Arms in Whalley Road, Langho, has been submitted to the borough
A CENTRE of excellence for vascular surgery will finally be launched at the Royal Blackburn Hospital in April, after years of wrangling with other health trusts. The plans include the recruitment of two extra consultants, another consultant radiologist
A NON-PROFIT group of doctors have backed ambitious plans for a 24-hour GP surgery to be built outside the Royal Blackburn Hospital. The bid has been submitted by Blackburn’s newly-formed “federation” of GPs, called Local Primary Care, and proposes
MORE than 260 older people gathered in the splendid surroundings of the King George’s Hall to enjoy an afternoon tea and a social gathering. The Just Good Friends event was organised by the council to give an afternoon out to those who have worked
A LONG-ESTABLISHED brass band believes it has appointed the youngest conductor in the country. Keen biker Connor Gingell, 19, has taken charge of the decades old Chorley Silver Band and it is hoped he will lead them into a new exciting era.
THREE girls have gone missing and are thought to be heading to Syria to join IS after being ruthlessly groomed online by terrorists. Twitter is now facing a backlash accused of allowing the vulnerable teenagers to be brainwashed in their bedrooms
BLACKBURN Rovers are sweating on the fitness of Josh King ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth. The attacker limped off with a hamstring injury just four minutes after coming on in Tuesday’s 2-1 home loss to promotion-pushing Norwich City.
CHELSEA should have returned the ball to Burnley after Tom Heaton kicked it out of play to allow Ben Mee to get treatment, according to Clarets boss Sean Dyche. Jose Mourinho’s side decided to keep hold of possession following the incident late
RE, BATTLE: Petition powerless to stop Blackburn pub’s sale Unfortunately, the writing was always on the wall. It was simply too late to apply for ACV. There was never enough time, as contracts were about to be signed. I was also surprised
I HAVE never racially abused anyone but have been racially insulted twice in Blackburn. Re: the extensive media coverage given to the black man who was harassed and pushed off a stationary train in Paris by ‘English heritage’ football supporters
RE: OLD Gates Nursing Home, Blackburn. Many care and nursing homes have recently been shown to be lacking in expertise and delivery of services to residents. After a long illness, my wife was accepted to Old Gates Nursing Home and stayed for
JACK Straw is not my MP but I have always had respect for the guy who will always say it how it is and does his best. Why is there never any recourse on the muck rakers and grandstanders who are trying to make a name for themselves with a so-called
RE, BAD MANNERS: ‘Selfish’ motorists caught queue jumping on M65 warned by police. The situation at the eastern end of the M65 can at times be extremely congested and difficultt and pretty soon it is going to get much, much, much worse. They
Once again, politicians have shown their ‘disconnect’ between ordinary people and the mainstream parties. Prominent MPs from both the Conservative and the Labour parties have been filmed offering their services for cash. Even if they are ‘playing
EAST Lancashire folk are well-known for their generosity but last weekend dozens of families demonstrated just how caring they are by adopting ex-battery hens. The Lancashire branch of the British Hen Welfare Trust held a special rehoming day on
RE: BUILDING bonds to beat hatred (LT Letters, February 18). Once again, Salim Mulla is writing a tunnel-visioned version of building bonds within the community. He comments on so-called Islamophobia in Canada and the USA, as well as anti-Semitic
A 15-YEAR-OLD girl who went missing from home has been found. Megan Pilling had last been seen on February 19 at her home in Gladstone Street in Bacup at around 8pm. A police spokesman said: “Megan was found safe and well in Whitworth on Monday
RESIDENTS in Sabden and Read will get the chance to discuss local crime issues with members of the neighbourhood policing team early next month. A Police and Communities Together (Pact) meeting will be held at the White Hart Inn, in Padiham Road
FUNDRAISING bosses at the North West Air Ambulance are urging East Lancashire residents to nominate them for a grant. The charity is hoping to gain £500 from the Nationwide bank’s Community Match scheme. A Nationwide spokesman said: “We like
GET blown away by an exhibition featuring giant biology-inspired inflatables running at Towneley Hall. The exhibition, called Generation AIR, gives youparticipants the chance to crawl through a huge tunnel shaped like a human bone, to touch blood
PROPOSALS have been submitted by borough council property chiefs in Calderdale, to the authority’s planning department, for the demolition of a former nursery building in Centre Vale Park, Burnley Road, Todmorden.
A STELLAR experience has been lined up for the next live gig at Padiham Unitarian Church. The Big Band Ribble Valley Jazz Collective will star on March 6, from 7.30pm. Marshalled by musical director Paul J Rigby, admission is £8 with all proceeds
DEVELOPERS have changed controversial plans to build 270 houses at a Colne beauty spot. Junction Property Ltd, which owns the land known as ‘The Rough’ on the outskirts of the town, has submitted the altered plans, including changes to the access
EAST Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has published a “revitalised” Health and Safety Strategy. Trust board papers said: “The strategy aims to revitalise the management of health and safety within the trust so that the board can be assured of compliance
AN INQUEST has been opened and adjourned after a Burnley man was found dead at his home by his wife. Blackburn Coroners’ Court heard how Mohammed Hussain, 38, was discovered collapsed in the bathroom of their Thurston Street house on February 13
DAVID Nugent, 27, of Coal Clough Lane, Burnley, was committed for crown court sentence in custody by Pennine magistrates, until March 20, after admitting burglary a shop, with intent to steal.
LANCASHIRE County Council wants to support businesses from financial and professional services to create new jobs. Through Rosebud Micro - accessed through Access2Finance on behalf of the county council’s economic development department - Companies
LITTLE ones can get whisked away to an imaginary world at Clitheroe Castle Museum’s storytime session. Stories cover topics ranging from dinosaurs, butterflies, caterpillars, dragons, knights and princesses. The next session is on Saturday. The
A BURNLEY-based leisure centre and spa has developed its customer service skills after the reception staff undertook free training as part of Lancashire’s £5.6 million skills programme. Accrington and Rossendale College delivered a level two customer
STAFF at Burnley Birth Centre have teamed up with national sustainability and recycling business to improve the birth centre environment for East Lancashire mothers. THE Green House director Philip Mossop handed over a cheque for £350 to buy new
THE Women’s Institute of Great Harwood were treated to a demonstration of glass making at a recent meeting. Jan Holley of Lucinda Glass showed off her skills by making jewellery, touch stones, and coasters. The group meets on the second Wednesday
JOHNNY Grogan will be singing live at the Old Function Room pub in Watery Lane, Darwen, this Saturday. The free gig gets under way at 8.30pm. The pub, which is under new management after Maxine Walsh, formerly of Hoddlesden Conservative Club took
AN application to convert a former car sales showroom into a retail store has been withdrawn by the applicant. Mr M Saleem had submitted the proposal for the former M65 Cars in Blackburn Road to Blackburn with Darwen Council in December last year
AN environmental film suitable for the whole family will be screened at the Prospects Environment Centre, in Broadway, Accrington on Saturday, February 28. Free popcorn and refreshments will be served at the 1pm showing. The film, rated U,
THE owner of Holden Fold Farm, off Tockholes Road, Darwen, has submitted a proposal to convert three stables to a cattery to look after people’s pets. Planning officers at Blackburn with Darwen Council will assess the planning application to ensure
CHRISTINE Lorraine Allen, 48, and David Thomas Allen, 45, both of Every Street, Burnley, have been sent to Burnley Crown Court for trial to the town’s crown court by Pennine magistrates, and bailed until May 18. MORE TOP STORIES: They have
GRASSROOTS football is set to make a welcome return to Rishton after £280,000 plans to improve pitches there were unveiled. Norden Playing Fields — built on a former tip, scrapyard and railway line to Great Harwood — was converted into two football
A DARWEN schoolgirl was named ‘outstanding student’ in a county-wide manufacturing contest run by aerospace giant BAE Systems. Year Nine Darwen Vale High School pupil Ionika Redugo beat 135 other pupils to the top accolade in the ‘Make It!’ enterprise
A HARRIS'S hawk died after becoming trapped in netting in a Blackburn park. The fire service was called to Queens Park shortly before noon today after receiving a call from a passerby. MORE TOP STORIES: Six firefighters attended the scene
The organisers of the North West’s leading multicultural awards programme for Enterprise, Education and Employment – the E3 Business Awards – have announced that nominations for the 2015 event are now open. They are open to all small and medium sized
AN ACCRINGTON coach company had an industrial pressure washer worth £2,100 stolen during a ram-raid earlier this year. Thieves in a white van reversed into metal shutters at Pilkington Bus’ base, in Argyle Street, knocking them off the rollers.
EAST Lancashire pair Alison Leonard and Holly Bleasdale are not in the Great Britain team for next month’s European Indoor Athletics Championships in the Czech Republic. Pole vaulter Bleasdale did not compete in this month’s British indoor competition
RAWTENSTALL’S swimming sensation Thomas Hamer has a record-breaking 2015 in his sights after picking up his first major international medals last summer. The 16-year-old, who trains at the National Swimming Performance Centre in Manchester, currently
Accrington Stanley 1 Burton Albion 0 A FIRST Accrington Stanley goal for a new look Josh Windass was enough to end Burton Albion’s 13 match unbeaten streak and keep all three points in East Lancashire. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side arrived
TO GO to Stamford Bridge and come away with a point when all the odds were against the Clarets was a magnificent team effort. The league leaders might have been thinking after going ahead in 14th minute that it was going to be easy. How wrong could
BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche felt compelled to speak out against criticism of Ashley Barnes after Saturday’s draw with Chelsea because he thought it had ‘gone a bit too far’. The 25-year-old striker has been under attack since Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho
AS a player you have to think positively even if that is different to what the supporters are thinking. That is why I can understand Blackburn’s manager and players insisting that there is still time to make the play-offs. And, you know what
FOOTBALL Association chairman Greg Dyke has warned it will be tough to cope with the disruption to the football calendar after a FIFA task force recommended the 2022 World Cup be played in November/December. Dyke said the best option would be for
MORE than 100 battery hens have been saved from the slaughterhouse by East Lancashire’s animal lovers. The birds were destined to become dog food and soup before they were found new homes by the region’s branch of the British Hen Welfare Trust.
BLACKBURN Rovers Under-21 boss Eric Kinder was encouraged by the performance of his young side despite losing 1-0 to Middlesbrough in the U21s Premier League on Monday night, writes DANIEL BRIGGS. Ryan Brobbel’s second-half header gave title-challenging
THE search for Ribble Valley’s King and Queen of Love, part of the borough council’s Wedding Heaven tourism initiative, will finish on Friday, March 6. A dream prize, including a vow-renewal ceremony and spa afternoon, is up for grabs by the borough
TONIGHT George Ezra, the 21-year-old singer-songwriter whose deep bluesy voice belies his years, is nominated for four gongs at the Brits. What most people don’t know is that the man who discovered him was brought up in Darwen and went to QEGS.
PLANS to build a new multi-million pound business and recreation park on the border of Blackburn and Hyndburn were shown off for the first time yesterday. Last week, the Lancashire Telegraph revealed how as many of 2,000 skilled workers could be
A CONVICTED sex offender from Pendle who disappeared without trace was found to be living with two girlfriends on Merseyside – one of whom had young children. David Perry, 32, was banned from unsupervised contact with youngsters after being convicted
FIREFIGHTERS in East Lancashire have joined with others across England in walking out for 24 hours today over the 'unworkable pension scheme' proposed by the government. Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “Government ministers
BURGLARS have again raided Chorley Football Club, causing around £2,500 of damage. Raiders smashed through a security door at the Magpies’ Nest refreshment bar inside the Victory Park ground overnight on Sunday. MORE TOP STORIES: They caused
A TEAM of firefighters tackled a blaze at a house in the early hours of this morning. The crew were called to the scene in Bluebell Grove, Burnley, shortly before 6am. MORE TOP STORIES: Four firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus
CAMPAIGNERS hoping to save their village’s only pub have won the backing of politicians. The Dog Inn in Belthorn, which dates back three centuries, faces an uncertain future after closing in November. Now two MPs, councillors and businesses
MICHAEL Keane has called on Burnley to turn their good form in big away games into wins at home - starting with the visit of Swansea on Saturday. The Clarets have taken six points from eight away games against sides in the top 11, including draws
ENVIRONMENT bosses have pledged to clean up an “eyesore” flytipping site along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Disgusted residents in the Bank Hall area of Burnley said they were “ashamed’”after mattresses and household waste were dumped by the
ROVERS were booed off for the second home match in succession after they threw away a half-time lead in losing to an in-form and superior Norwich team at Ewood Park last night. Alex Baptiste went from hero to zero as he headed Gary Bowyer’s side
HUNDREDS of jobs will be axed at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals as they aim to save £131million over the next five years, a leading campaigner has predicted. Patients champion Russ McLean said a huge shortfall in government funding
BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer said he was ‘hugely disappointed’ after his side went down to a 2-1 defeat at home to high-flying Norwich City last night that left them closer to the relegation places than to the play-offs. Rovers now find themselves
