SOWETO Kinch is an artist at the busy crossroads of jazz and hip hop. His last release, The Legend of Mike Smith, is a heavy duty offering, a Dante-inspired work based on the Seven Deadly Sins, which sees the protagonist – an emerging music star
THE village of Trawden will be welcoming real ale lovers to its first beer festival which opens this evening. Over 33 real ales and seven ciders will be available for tasting during the course of the festival which ends on Saturday night. Organised
ALAN Carr is a busy bee – his new stand-up show, which comes to Blackburn next weekend will take him to over 120 different venues around the UK. “I adore touring – it keeps me out of mischief!” said Alan. “This is the biggest tour I’ve ever done
THINK Floyd come to Clitheroe tomorrow having just returned from a whirlwind trip to the Gulf, where they played two shows in 48 hours in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. “We weren’t sure what to expect,” said the band’s bassist Lewis Hall. “But it was amazing
A VITAL blood transport service is struggling to keep up with demand from the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals, and has issued an urgent appeal for volunteers. The North West Blood Bikes charity needs about 40 motorcyclists to make
AN INTREPID Burnley teenager has packed his bags for the trip of a lifetime to help transform the lives of a remote Ugandan community. Burnley College student Brandon Coppock travelled to the Rwenzori region of the African country earlier this
PATRIOTIC Lancastrians will be out in force to celebrate St George’s Day this weekend. Events, including a medieval day, are expected to take place across the area to mark the event, which falls today. MORE TOP STORIES: Highlights from
I WOULD like to make your readers aware of a new helpline that has been launched for parents of children with Type 1 diabetes. The Care in School Helpline supports parents in making sure that their child is receiving the diabetes care they are
HER majesty the Queen has just celebrated her 89th birthday and come September she will become the longest reigning British monarch and also the longest reigning female monarch in history. There can be very few royals who work half as hard as the
I’VE done jobs from coalman to meat lifter, from chef to Smithfield Market porter so I am working class (retired) and proud. Things I will be remembering come the General Election are: The economy – the one contrast between Labour and Tory is the former
LANCASHIRE is one of the worst counties in the country for inflicting suffering on animals, shock new figures from the RSPCA have revealed. The animal welfare charity revealed that Lancashire was sixth out of 47 counties for complaints in 2014,
Any school which claims not to have any bullying problems is more than likely burying its head in the sand. Playground name-calling can spiral into misery, making schools days a sheer misery. Teachers have set up some excellent anti-bullying
THE private sector will fund more than half of the regeneration scheme for Brierfield Mill, it has been revealed. Plans for the Northlight scheme include a hotel, a state of the art climbing and leisure facility, high-quality retirement housing
SHADOW Chancellor Ed Balls came to East Lancashire yesterday and declared Labour has to win marginal Rossendale & Darwen, Burnley and Pendle to form the next government. He visited all three seats, repeating Ed Miliband’s pledge to upgrade
A BLIND Barnoldswick woman has set herself a challenge to climb Pendle Hill to raise money for charity. Dawn Rowley will attempt to climb the 1,835 foot hill with the help of her carer and two members of staff from West Craven Sports Centre on
A CHARITY football game featuring a host of ex-Burnley stars will take place this summer in memory of a popular amateur sportsman. Tommy Robertson, from Nelson, died aged 49 last July after a seven-year battle with a brain tumour. MORE TOP
A BURNLEY headteacher said staff were taking a ‘proactive’ approach to potential bullying after a rise in reports of pupils receiving abusive text messages. Brunshaw Primary School issued a letter to parents after two incidents over the Easter
MACHINES are being installed within days to impose controversial new car parking charges at two East Lancashire beauty spots. Senior Tories and UKIP councillor Malcolm Pritchard have criticised the £1 fee as a Labour tax on picnickers and dog walkers
THE next generation of engineers have been learning to design, build and operate their own cars - thanks to a unique partnership. ‘Making it in Burnley’ is a pioneering project between all the town’s primary schools and leading engineering businesses
RESIDENTS reacted furiously on social media after vandals broke a fence and smashed bottles on land near the Nazareth Unitarian Chapel in Padiham. A walker discovered the mess on Saturday morning when he was in the popular garden area near the
WHEN primary age kids hear the new High Sheriff of Lancashire is visiting school they expect a female version of Woody, Buzz Lightyear’s side-kick from Toy Story. What they get is a genteel, nicely-spoken lady dressed in a vibrant purple velvet
VETERAN hairdresser Jeff Stone is on the lookout for an expert to paint his barber shop pole. The 67-year-old, who took over his Fleming Square shop almost 45 years ago, said “retirement is in the hair” but not until he finds a specialist to complete
Tickets are now on sale for the popular Blackburn Beer Festival, which will be returning to the city this bank holiday weekend (1st to 3rd May). Lancashire beer lovers, who purchase their tickets ahead of the festival will also be entered into a prize
A FREE evening of northern soul and Motown music takes place on April 25. The King Edward pub, in Haslingden Road, Guide, will be hosting the event from 8pm. The night will feature music from top northern soul and Motown artists and entry to
TERRY Gaskin, 22, of Redlam, Blackburn, was sent on bail to Preston Crown Court when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with burglary at a house in Brother Street while the owner was on holiday and fraudulently cashing a cheque, stolen
A 39-YEAR-OLD man who was refused a prescription by his doctor broke into a health centre to try and steal medication. John David McKay, of Stansfeld Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty at the town’s magistrates to burglary at Barbara Castle Health Centre
AN EXHIBITION showing how ‘mill girls’ were used in the cotton mills of East Lancashire to help sell fabrics abroad is set to open in Burnley next week. The ‘Cotton Queens’ glamorised the Lancashire cotton industry in the 1930s and the ‘one and
VISITORS from East Lancashire helped Blackpool Zoo record its best figures for the sixth year running. The seaside venue, owned by Spanish firm Parque Reunidos, has continued to invest in new facilities and attractions, while also introducing new
BEAUTICIAN Pamela Croasdale, from Preston, won a £999 dining set in a competition held by Oswaldtwistle Mills. The mother-of-three had her name picked out from 6,000 others. The shopping centre’s manager Nick Pitman said: “We have had a great response
MOTORISTS are reminded of roadworks set to disrupt traffic in Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors this week. On Friday, workers from the county council will be reconstructing a pavement in the street, from opposite The Nightingale Services to number
A 19-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before Blackburn magistrates over his involvement with a 15-year-old girl. Sinan Aljanabi, of Florence Place, Blackburn, was sent to Preston Crown Court to stand trial after pleading not guilty to detaining the girl
FIREFIGHTERS were scrambled to Accrington Victoria Hospital, in Haywood Road, after a call-out at around 7pm on Tuesday. A spokesman said the call-out was caused by an automatic fire alarm at the hospital going off, although it turned out to be
FIREFIGHTERS from Accrington were called to three grass fires on Tuesday. Crews were sent to an area of land beside the railway line, between Huncoat and Altham, at around 6.30pm, where they found an embankment on fire. They were later called to
CINDERELLA and Belle will be visiting the Civic Arts Centre and Theatre, in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, from 1.30pm on Friday, May 16. Tickets costs £4.50 each. Call 01254 398319.
THE Hollies Nursery in Chorley has been open 21 years and to celebrate they had a party. The theme for the nursery was ‘On The Farm’ and children came in farm yard fancy as farmers, scarecrows, sheep, cows and pigs. Staff though the theme would
PERMISSION is being sought to split a property in Edgworth into two separate homes. Mrs K Knowles has submitted a planning application for consideration Blackburn with Darwen Council. The proposal is for the conversion of 9 High Street to form
A 73-YEAR-OLD Wilpshire man has appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with harassing a shop assistant. Anthony Hill, of Ribchester Road, denied harassing Abigail Wilson, 18, at Superdrug in The Mall. MORE TOP STORIES: He was bailed
DRUGS cops seized 40 cannabis plants from a home in Swiss Street, Accrington, where they executed a warrant on Monday. A 39-year-old man inside the address was not arrested and was due to speak to officers voluntarily. A spokesman said: “Anyone
A CROWD of people huddled around a car in an effort to coax a scared dog from underneath it. The fire and police services were called to Preston Old Road, Blackburn, at around 6.10pm on Tuesday to reports of a distressed dog hiding under a car.
FIRE crews in Blackburn were called to a patch of grass that was set alight in Fecitt Brow at 10.30pm on Tuesday night. A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze had been small but it had been started deliberately. An
HOB Lane in Entwistle will be shut to vehicles from a point 240 metres South West of its junction with Blackburn Road for 72 metres further South West from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Thursday, May 7, because of work being carried out in the area. The
A SPORTSMANS dinner takes place at Hollins Grove Conservative Club, in Blackburn Road on May 1. Tickets are still available for the evening which starts at 7pm and features a comedian, speaker and a three-course meal for £30. The talk will
THE day victory in Europe was finally declared after six years of bloody war was celebrated with a night of 1940s music, dress, and dance. Students from Our Lady and St John Catholic College (OLSJ) and six East Lancashire primary schools performed
The Employment Team at Forbes Solicitors has been selected to provide employment law advice to one of Britain’s leading manufacturing companies, Leyland Trucks The Company has a workforce of around 1,000 employees based at its award winning plant
ADAM Morgan gave notice to his British Touring Car rivals that he’s going to be force to be reckoned with this season, after a strong showing at Donington Park. The WIX-Mercedes driver picked up his first podium of the year with a hard-earned third
A PENSIONER suffered three fractured ribs after her car was hit by a van that failed to stop in Burnley. The 75-year-old woman was a passenger in a white Vauxhall Corsa which was being driven by an 81-year-old man. The car had stopped to give
IT ALL began at Alexandra Meadows, Blackburn, when a fresh faced 15-year-old by the name of James Anderson made his senior cricket debut for his hometown club Burnley. At the time the Lancashire League match between East Lancashire and Burnley
BLACKBURN Harriers star Ben Fish powered to a top-10 finish at the Manchester Marathon. But he was not the only East Lancashire runner to impress at the big event. Fish came seventh overall in two hours 23 minutes and five seconds. MORE
HASLINGDEN’S Tom Carne was just inches away from an accident that left two riders with serious head injuries at Brands Hatch on Sunday. Carne was taking part in the National Superstock 600 race when a number of riders fell in front of him on the
IT WAS a proud day for Blackburn Harriers as the club opened its new George Kirby Stand at the Witton Park Arena. The stand is named after the Harriers’ club president, and the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Councillor Alan Cottam
THE new 60-bed Premier Inn in Blackburn’s £33 million Cathedral Quarter is set to open on Saturday November 7. Borough regeneration chief Maureen Bateson has revealed the date in a report on the project to fellow councillors. MORE TOP STORIES
KYLE Jarvis delivered his best bowling performance for Lancashire as they cruised to a 250-run victory over Derbyshire on the final day of the County Championship Division Two match at Derby. The 26-year-old Zimbabwean produced an inspired spell
NIGEL Pearson knows only too well that there is a time and a place to poke a dangerous animal with a stick. For the Leicester City boss, it was four years ago in the Romanian mountains when he was attacked by a pack of wild dogs. Isolated and cornered
So, registration to vote has closed for the impending General Election. I'm already getting fed up with we'll spend £x billions on this, we'll give this to this group, that to that, we'll appoint x more nurses, y more teachers, z more midwives tenor
A NUMBER of Michael Duff’s former Burnley team-mates will be in attendance when the Clarets defender holds a question and answer evening on Thursday, April 30 as part of his testimonial celebrations. Current Burnley players Danny Ings, Sam Vokes
Will Burnley get the points required to stay up in the final five games of the season, and how pivotal is the Leicester match? Andrew Kerin WE have to win our two home games and try to win another away game. The Leicester game is crucial
GARY Bowyer has proved throughout his Rovers reign that he can make a little go a long way. One of the biggest frustrations of the club’s Financial Fair Play embargo, then, is that he is being denied the chance to do that, a consequence of the
A COVERT operation to check on under-age booze sales caught three pubs selling alcohol to under-18s. Details of the successful; ‘sting’ are revealed in a report by borough environment boss Jim Smith to Blackburn with Darwen’s full Council Forum
BURNLEY have been operating with a wage bill that is less than a third of some of their relegation rivals, according to figures released this week. The Clarets paid out £21.5m in wages for the 2013/14 season – some way short of the next lowest
BURNLEY will have to achieve a feat that only two clubs have managed in 20 years if they are to survive in the Premier League this season. The Clarets have won only five of their 33 matches in the top flight so far this term to leave them facing
TWO women have been arrested after a car overturned in Burnley in the early hours of yesterday morning. Lancashire Police were called to the scene in Marsden Road shortly before 4am after receiving reports that a gold Citroen Saxo had overturned
TWO teenage girls have admitted starting a fire outside a home, which provides accommodation for vulnerable young women. Blackburn magistrates heard the fire brigade was called to put out a bin fire at the home in Burnley Lane in the early hours
A HIGH school which which was placed in special measures more than a year ago is making ‘reasonable progress’, according to inspectors. In February 2014, Blackburn’s Our Lady and St John Catholic College was placed in special measures and was found
FROM Tom Cairney’s sublime curler on the opening day against Cardiff City to Rudy Gestede’s unstoppable shot against Brentford only last month, Blackburn Rovers fans have been treated to some superb strikes in the 2014-15 campaign. And now you
FORMER Blackburn schoolboy, journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, has been shut down mid-interview by Hollywood star and Ironman actor Robert Downey Jnr. The thespian was being interviewed as part of promotion for the new Avengers movie when he took
KELVIN WILKINS Losing Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede will be a huge blow. We have got two of the most potent strikers in the Championship and both guarantee you goals. We do need to sell, but should we lose both players, we will also need to
TRAVELLERS who rolled their caravans onto popular playing fields in Hyndburn will be hauled before a court this morning after ignoring a notice ordering them to shift. Four caravans and two cars were spotted at Baxenden Recreation Ground, off Hollins
TOM Heaton has urged his Burnley team-mates to embrace their decisive final games of the season rather than wilting under the pressure. The Clarets sit bottom of the Premier League table after a horror run of fixtures against some of the country
CRAIG Conway is emerging as a genuine leader for Blackburn Rovers. That was the verdict of Gary Bowyer after he watched Conway star in Rovers’ 2-0 home win over Millwall. MORE TOP STORIES: The industrious winger is in his best form of the
A MAN has been jailed after he threw a stone at a parked car. Blackburn Magistrates Court heard Dane Harry Bleasdale, 23, carried out the vandalism after a Sunday drinking session. He was already on bail for shoplifting and subject to a conditional
A FIRE which stretched across one mile of moorland near Darwen Tower is believed to have been started deliberately. Police want to question four youths who were spotted in the vicinity. MORE TOP STORIES: The fire broke out at 6.10pm on
BLACKBURN council candidate and general election agent Phil Riley has been bitten on the hand leafleting in his Roe Lee ward. The 67-year-old said it was the first time of more than 30 years of canvassing for Labour a dog had injured him. MORE
AN event to mark the next phase of a £40 million housing development scheme in west Accrington has been held. Project Phoenix will see a new neighbourhood built to the south of Blackburn Road dubbed Phoenix Place. MORE TOP STORIES: A total
CLAIMS have been made that an area has turned into “an unofficial rubbish tip” after a spate of flytipping incidents left residents furious. A mattress, a leather sofa and dozens of bags of rubbish are among the items dumped in the Exchange Street
