BLACKBURN Rovers are through to the final of the U21s Premier League Cup after a superb 2-1 victory over holders Reading at Leigh Sports Village tonight. Defender Sam Lavelle opened the scoring for Eric Kinder’s team in the 22nd minute and, despite
GIDDY UP….Kylie Minogue is back in the saddle and the pint-size pop princess rides into Lancashire for an exclusive mid-summer bash in the unusual surroundings of Haydock Park racecourse. Kylie, who will perform at Haydock Park on Saturday, June
KNUZDEN pub landlord Derek Slater has launched live entertainment and new cask ale pumps after an extensive refurbishment. Admiral Taverns have funded the work at The Cabin End in Windsor Road, with more than £60,000 spent on upgrading the pub’
HIS voice is instantly recognisable full of rich, mellifluous tones conjuring up images of a warm fireside, a wee dram on the table and an atmosphere of contentment. To many sports lovers Peter Alliss is the voice of golf, a friend in the commentary
A GUIDE dog who is an honorary member of Burnley Miners Club has been granted a ‘retirement party’ by stewards. Demi is a familiar face at the Plumbe Street venue, having been given her own card just over three years ago. MORE TOP STORIES:
A TOUGH new law on drug-driving is to come into force next month – but Lancashire Police will continue to use current legislation. The new rules, described as the “biggest shake-up of drug-driving laws for 85 years”, will be rolled out on Monday
EAST Lancashire’s rugby fans are being urged to purchase tickets from an official source to avoid losing their money. Action Fraud, together with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau and the City of London Police, are working in partnership with
EAST Lancashire fashionista Henry Holland is used to making heads turn with his bold collections. But his unconventional catwalk had audiences at London Fashion Week AW15 in even more of a spin than usual. MORE TOP STORIES: The Ramsbottom
HEALTH chiefs are monitoring a spike in deaths this winter, which is thought to have been caused by the cold weather and respiratory illnesses. In Blackburn with Darwen, there were 142 deaths last month, up from 128 in December and 120 during January
A PLAN to construct more than 500 homes in Longridge has been reduced by 30 per cent following successful campaigning from residents. Housing developer Barrett Homes submitted an application in September to erect up to 520 homes at Higgins Brook
IF you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. I never expected that my last few weeks as Blackburn’s MP would be spent in the midst of a media firestorm. But that’s my problem. All my careful checking about the “Hong Kong consultancy”
EAST Lancashire community leaders have welcomed a poll suggesting the majority of British Muslims oppose violence against people who publish images depicting the Prophet Mohammed. The BBC survey also indicates most of those interviewed had no sympathy
UNION leaders in Lancashire believe that support for striking firefighters within the service is only strengthening after their latest walkout yesterday. County firefighters joined colleagues across the UK as part of a national walkout organised
SEAN Dyche expects Ashley Barnes to react well to the furore caused by his clash with Nemanja Matic and hopes the striker will not change his combative playing style. The Burnley forward was widely condemned after catching Matic on the shin with
A CAMPAIGN for responsible dog ownership is set to be extended to cover Padiham Cemetery after complaints that gravesides have been left covered in muck. Susan Hindle has been having repeated problems with her late husband Kevin’s plot at the St
A FORMER aircraft parts tester will take to the skies as he seeks to conquer some of Scotland’s highest hills. Retired Rolls-Royce engineer Robert Sneath, from Barnoldswick, has set himself a challenge to climb 32 of the Scottish Munros. MORE
PLANS for 36 homes close to a ‘semi-rural’ school have been unanimously rejected by councillors. Beck Developments, which is based in Blackburn, intended to build 36 homes on land just north of The Meadows, off Red Lane in Colne. But residents
ROSSENDALE Council is to write off “irrecoverable” debts worth almost £134,000. A report, due to go before the authority’s cabinet next week, recommends that the outstanding sums are waived. Of the total, £122,080 relates to non-domestic rates
CABBIES in Burnley have raised the prospect of strike action after proposals were unveiled to increase their fees by more than 80 per cent. Hackney-carriage drivers have met to discuss withdrawing their services after the borough’s licensing committee
A MAN was arrested at a petrol station after allegedly attempting to fill up a stolen car with fuel. Rossendale police said they received reports of a man changing the registration plates on a green Vauxhall Astra parked near Healden Grove House
A THREE-year-old boy has had his leg amputated to above the knee after being struck down with meningitis. Identical twin Thomas Procter-Whitham is fighting for his life at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool after being diagnosed with meningococcal
A FREE multi-sports session is being held at Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School’s sports hall, in Wordsworth Road, Accrington, every Thursday from 6pm to 7.30pm. Qualified coaches will be present at every session. Parents are invited to
WRITER Mairead Mahon gave a talk about the characters in Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice during an appearance at Blackburn Library, in Town Hall Street. She also uncovered some little-known facts about Mr Darcy and others from 2pm last Wednesday
POLICE in Audley are set to crack down on illegal and inconsiderate parkers in Audley Range. Fed-up locals complained to members of the neighbourhood policing team during a recent Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting. Following the
A POLICE and Communities Together (PACT) meeting will be held for residents in Audley at 6pm on Tuesday, March 3. Held at Kinross Community Centre, in Kinross Road, the meeting will give residents the chance to discuss local crime with the neighbourhood
A BLACKBURN grandmother is set to take on the London Marathon in memory of her husband who died of motor neurone disease. Sue Walker, 57, will pound the pavements of the capital in April in a bid to raise £2,000 for charity. MORE TOP STORIES
FORMER Blackburn Rovers and Scotland defender Colin Hendry has been given a warning over harassment. Hendry, 49, has reportedly pestered an ex-girlfriend after the breakdown of their relationship. MORE TOP STORIES: He began seeing beautician
THE hits of rock legend Jon Bon Jovi will be performed by tribute act Paul Conner at The Clifton in Grimshaw Park, Blackburn, from 3.30pm on Sunday, March 1. The event will be free to enter. For information, call landlady Carole Davis on 01254
BLACKBURN ROVERS' Championship rivals Charlton Athletic are investigating footage that appears to show a couple having sex on the club's pitch. The video, that has been shared widely online, shows footage of a man and a woman on the centre spot
A LANDSCAPING firm chosen to transform the grounds of a historic castle is to be shadowed by an archaeologist in case its workers uncover any centuries-old artefacts. Green services provider Glendale has been selected to restore grounds at Lincoln
GREAT Harwood Farmers’ Market will be held on the Towngate from 9am until 2pm on Sunday. Stalls will sell local produce at the free monthly market, which has been developed to encourage, promote, and invest in the skills of food, art, and independent
HYNDBURN Council was meeting to confirm its budget for the forthcoming financial year today. The Labour-led council’s budget proposal has already gone through the scrutiny process, where counter-proposals were made by independent and UKIP councillors
AN 11-year-old girl and her friend, aged 12, were confronted by a semi-naked man who was indecently exposing himself. Blackburn magistrates heard Daniel Simon Brown spoke to the terrified girls, before chasing after them. MORE TOP STORIES:
YOUNG performers from across the county have been given the chance to take part in a professional variety show in Blackburn. Variety Live, billed as a vaudeville show for the 21st century, comes to the stage at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in a
FLY-TIPPERS have dumped rubbish behind private garages at the back of Spring Street in Rishton. Councillor Ken Moss said the garages are owned and managed by Ingham and Yorke on behalf of the Dunkenhalgh Estate. He said: “The council has made
A BLACKBURN-based designer wallpaper company has announced that 20 workers could be made redundant following a 28-day consultation. Graham and Brown, which is based in Stanley Street, may make is making the reduction in staff in a bid to make the
THE Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society’s Hyndburn branch will hold its annual general meeting early next month. The meeting, from 7.30pm on Tuesday, March 3, at Accrington Library in St James’ Street, will be followed by a talk and
THE Royal Society of St George Blackburn and East Lancashire branch will host A Knight To Remember at Darwen Library Theatre in Knott Street on Saturday, from 7.30pm. A choir will perform. Tickets £8. Call 01254 706006. The evening will feature
DARWEN MP Jake Berry organised a VIP tour for apprentices at metal fabrication firm WEC to have a look behind the scenes of Bentley’s headquarters. Mr Berry was joined by a group of youngsters from the Junction Street firm as well as MD Steve Hartley
AN EVENING of mediumship will be staged in Blackburn today. Blackburn Spiritualist Centre in Princes Street hosts the event with Ron Coey, 7-8pm. £2 donation on the door. The centre will also host a free mediumship event with minister Kathryn
A GP practice in Shadsworth has received an overall ‘good’ rating from the Care Quality Commission. The watchdog said of Dr AJM Murdoch’s practice based at Shadsworth Surgery: “Feedback from patients was consistently positive. We observed a patient-centred
DARWEN football fans can watch their local side when AFC Darwen take on Ashton Town at the WEC Group Anchor Ground in the North West Counties First Division on Saturday. Kick-off at 3pm.
THE Darwen committee of Cancer Research UK will host a table top sale on Saturday, April 25. The event is an arts and crafts-themed day but stalls of any kind are welcome. It will take place at Derwent Hall in George Street. For information
BIG-hearted children at a Hoddlesden primary school have helped an appeal to send a 10-year-old girl to the US in a bid to save her sight. Deputy head teacher at Hoddlesden Primary School Janine Jose is campaigning for her niece, Scarlett McCracken
BLACKBURN Rovers striker Josh King has been ruled out of Saturday’s Championship clash at Bournemouth. King came off with a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s 2-1 home loss to Norwich City just four minutes after being brought on at half-time for Jordan
Angela Thomas, Managing Director of Ginger Recruitment has been short listed for a Women in Business award. The final results will be announced at a celebratory lunch at the Midland hotel in Manchester on Friday, 27 March. Angela is a finalist in
A POLICE pursuit ended when a driver lost control of his vehicle which climbed a grass bank and collided with a concrete wall. Blackburn magistrates were told that Karl Davie Carrie got out of the car and ran off down an alley but was arrested
DANCERS are sitting pretty as they get into the groove for salsa lessons. For the last six weeks, residents have descended on Darwen Library every Wednesday to take part in ‘sit down salsa’ sessions. A spokeswoman for Darwen Library, in Knott
The line-up of free seminars at the Spring North West Expo is beyond impressive. Over 12 seminars are schedule to take place and anyone can access them for free by registering and booking their seat. The Spring Expo North West is set to take place
THEY say that it is better to give than receive, which is the motto that one Colne man is living by. Jimmy Trigg, 49, of Birtwistle Avenue, decided that he would spread a little joy by leaving envelopes containing scratch cards in locations across
Following advice from The Corporate and Restructuring Team at Forbes Solicitors, WEC Group has purchased MTL Group, saving 135 jobs. Darwen head quartered WEC Group, purchased Rotherham based MTL Group for an undisclosed fee, after the manufacturing
BURNLEY defender Luke O'Neill has joined Alex Cisak on loan at League One side Leyton Orient. O'Neill will link up with the London club until May 3 after previous loan spells at York City, Southend United and Scunthorpe United. Burnley loaned goalkeeper
Was Martin Atkinson right not to penalise Ashley Barnes for his challenge with Nemanja Matic at Stamford Bridge on Saturday? Andrew Greenwood NO he wasn’t. I’ve watched the incident a few times and to be honest I’m 50/50 whether it
EIGHT-week-old Gabriel Procter has absolutely no idea about the attention he has received at such a young age. The cute newborn was transformed into a superstar thanks to the YouCam Makeup app. MORE TOP STORIES: He became an overnight internet
A MOTHER-of-five has spoken of her devastation after a fire ripped through her home destroying her children’s clothes and toys. Jameela Bi and her husband Saeed Newaz were alerted by a neighbour as they shopped in Manchester when smoke was spotted
RED roses laid on a Rishton man’s grave on the first Valentine’s Day since his death were stolen. Anne Taylor placed the £42 bouquet of roses beside the headstone of her late husband John, only to return the following day and find the flowers gone
SOME 73% of fresh shop-bought chickens are contaminated with the food poisoning bug campylobacter, and almost a fifth have tested positive at the highest level, results show. The Food Standards Agency's cumulative results from the first three quarters
BETHANY Widdup has set her sights on taking on the best young skiers in the world after a ‘surprise’ performance at the recent English Junior Alpine Ski Championships. The 19-year-old from Colne finished in second place overall in her category
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman says Josh Windass was groomed for success after the midfielder scored his first goal for the Reds in the 1-0 win over Burton Albion, writes SAM ROBINSON. After waiting almost 18 months to get off the mark for
MICHAEL Kightly is happy to be back in action for Burnley after admitting it has been a ‘frustrating’ season for him so far. The winger has started the last two games against Chelsea and Manchester United in place of the injured Dean Marney, who
HASLINGDEN’S Tom Carne is feeling optimistic about his first foray into the National Superstock 600 Championship after an encouraging test in Spain. Carne has joined the Motobreakers team in the Superstock series, a support event for the British
TWO legends of rallying have been reunited, thanks to one East Lancashire businessman. Ari Vatanen enjoyed a stellar career in the sport, winning of the World Championship in 1981 and the Paris-Dakar four times. And he was best known for his
TERRY Martin and Brandon Smith’s attempt to win the Jack Neal Memorial Rally went up in smoke when the exhaust exploded halfway through the event. Martin, from Clitheroe DMC, and driver Smith had made a great start in their Darrian, posting joint
BLACKBURN Harriers’ men’s team produced a superb performance to power to two top-30 finishes at the National Cross Country Championships at a muddy Parliament Hill in London on Saturday. The team finished 22nd out of 74 in the competition for the
IT took Sean Dyche just short of 11 minutes to bring some sanity to a week that made us long for the days when football was more about what happened on the pitch, and less about the soap opera that now engulfs the game. In truth taking the moral
BLACKBURN Rovers U21s boss Eric Kinder insists his young side will ‘give it a right good go’ in tonight’s U21 Premier League Cup semi-final against holders Reading at Leigh Sports Village (7pm), writes DANIEL BRIGGS. Rovers set up the last four
CHELSEA will wait for the Football Association’s written reasons for reducing Nemanja Matic’s suspension by just one match before deciding their next course of action. The Blues released a statement on Tuesday evening condemning the decision to
Simon Williamson THE players should never give up, not least for the fans’ sake, but I think the top six has gone for us now. It says it all when you can’t beat Blackpool at home. If you can’t beat a side as bad as that you don’t deserve to
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman hopes Tuesday’s win over League Two leaders Burton Albion will boost attendances – after the match was watched by a crowd of only 919. The attendance was the second gate of below 1,000 at the Store First Stadium
TWO Chorley men along with ex-Bolton Wanderers manager Sammy Lee and other senior football figures have appeared in court to face perjury charges relating to a legal battle over a £1million transfer deal. Agent Tony McGill, 56, is bringing a private
AN Accrington man has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life after a fire at the weekend. Arshad Hussain, 34, of Lower Antley Street, was remanded in custody after appearing at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on Monday. MORE TOP
BUSINESS leaders have stressed that Blackburn is open for business despite three prominent units lying empty on the town centre’s main street. The recent closure of one Santander bank branch and the relocation of Poundbakery into The Mall have
BLACKBURN Rovers have sold out their ticket allocation for the club's big FA Cup quarter-final clash at Liverpool on Sunday, March 8. MORE TOP STORIES: Gary Bowyer's side will be roared on by nearly 6,000 supporters at Anfield after season-ticket
MOTORISTS reported rush hour delays this morning following a 'multi-vehicle' crash on the M65. The smash happened just after the Darwen services at junction four on the westbound carriageway shortly before 8am today. MORE TOP STORIES: Two
BURNLEY have sent a message to the rest of the Premier League after their fearless Stamford Bridge display, according to Sam Vokes. The Welshman came off the bench to help the Clarets get back in the game in West London, but now insists they have
THERE is no shame in losing to a superior side such as Norwich – but there is in having form as bad as Blackpool’s. When Rovers snatched a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough on November 29 they made it nine matches unbeaten and strengthened their place
CRAIG Conway insists Blackburn Rovers’ failure to so far live up to their play-off promise is not for the want of trying. Rovers fans anticipated a push for promotion after finishing last season two points outside the top six. MORE TOP STORIES
A MOTHER-OF-TWO has admitted claiming more than £26,000 in benefits that she was not entitled to. Victoria Louise Norris, 33, of Seven Acres, Chorley pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining the benefits when she appeared before magistrates on the
CCTV images of men police want to speak to in connection with a burglary at a restaurant have been released. Nearly £2,500 in cash and cheques was stolen from Bashall Barn, in the Ribble Valley village of Bashall Eaves, when burglars broke in and
A CLITHEORE street has been branded by police as the worst in the town for car crime. Highfield Road has been the scene of around 50 separate attacks over the last two years, resulting in £1,000s worth of damage to resident’s cars, police said.
THE £6 million centrepiece of the Cathedral Quarter development has started rising from the ground. Workers have been busy on the Cathedral Court since the Bishop of Blackburn, Julian Henderson, laid the foundation stone earlier this month.
