THE political tables were turned on Ribble Valley's Tories during an evening which brought shock votes for the mayoralty and also saw them lose control of the council for the first time in 23 years. As the Liberal Democrats lined up their own two mayors
TWO men armed with a sawn-off shotgun assaulted elderly customers and demanded money after bursting into a Post Office early today. The robbers went into the premises in Johnston Street, Blackburn, at 9.30am and threatened the owner, Mrs Zulekha Yusuf
RICHARD Green was preparing for a return to Robin Hood country at Haslingden today. Lancashire's 20-year-old all-rounder, who grabbed five wickets on the first day of the Second Eleven Championship match against Sussex, was yesterday given the news that
OLEG Sinkov could be staying with Blackburn Hawks...but player-coach Ryan Kummu will not be returning. Hawks have revealed that they are prepared to "fight all the way" to keep hold of Russian superstar Sinkov for next season. Arena officials claim that
MIKE WATKINSON today pinpointed Courtney Walsh and Andrew Symonds as the men to watch after Lancashire were drawn against Gloucestershire in the Benson and Hedges Cup quarter finals. Lancashire were guaranteed a home tie after their thrilling win against
IT IS BEYOND the power of imagination for the rest of us to know the torments that must have been endured by hostage Paul Wells, of Blackburn, during the 317 long days since he was seized by separatist rebels in Kashmir. So, too, is it impossible for
DUTCH girl Mischa Stork is the first foreign student to arrive in Lancashire as part of an exchange initiative by Accrington and Rossendale College. The 21-year-old international marketing studentis currently working in Blackburn's C&A store after
A SECOND child at a Burnley nursery has been struck by the potentially fatal disease of meningitis. The nine-month old baby boy, from Burnley, was diagnosed at his home and is today being treated at Burnley General Hospital where health officials say
A HOUSE of Commons call to outlaw water prepayment 'smart cards' has come from more than 100 MPs, including Burnley and Pendle members, Peter Pike and Gordon Prentice. In a parliamentary motion they say they are concerned over the increasing use by water
REGARDING your report (LET, April 29) about Blackburn Town Hall's cleaners, I and many others are amazed that any cleaning staff at all are required. I am not taking issue about their pay and conditions, but with the actual necessity of employing cleaners
THE first civic duty after Blackburn's new Mayor, Councillor Mary Leaver and her Consort Keith Ladd, are installed on Thursday, will be a special luncheon to raise funds during Christian Aid Week. The pair will mingle with the public at the bread and
JAMES Howlett answered the plea to "Plant a tree in '73'' and has carried on tree planting ever since. In the past 23 years, James, 46, has created a mini woodland around his home in Chislehurst Grove, Burnley, starting in his own garden and then branching
The five-year-old from the Ribble Valley is battling with an illness so rare that doctors all over the country have not diagnosed it properly, yet but she is determined to walk with her eight-year-old brother Jake and mum Valerie. Jasmine, of Eastmoor
IN response to your article (LET, May 6) regarding 'whingeing nurses', I and many of my colleagues do not believe the nurses are whingeing but that they have justifiable concerns about the proposed plan to introduce a park and ride scheme between Queen's
THE father of student hostage Paul Wells today rejected claims he was dead by saying: "I will not write off my son." Mr Bob Wells spoke after the Foreign Office said it was investigating claims that Paul and Middlesbrough-born hostage Keith Mangan had
HEALTH manager Carole Wood dodged the bullets but battled with the elements in a sponsored cycle marathon through Israel. There was no free wheeling for Carole as the start of the 250-mile British Heart Foundation event was switched away from the North
BURNLEY boss Adrian Heath was back at Turf Moor today after a hectic but rewarding flying visit to Spain. And he managed to watch two full matches, including a clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid second team players. But bad weather thwarted his hopes
SO Community Health Council Chief Nigel Robinson raps nurses for complaining about the proposed park and ride scheme for staff at Blackburn Infirmary (LET, May 6). I hope that, in his wisdom and as a former nurse, he had looked at the problem from a nurses's
WATER from a bore hole at Irwell Springs at Weir, Bacup, could help to ease the water shortage caused by the 13-month drought. North West Water engineers have been carrying out tests to see if it could be viable to take water from the bore hole, once
BORDEAUX striker Christophe Dugarry is only one of several players being scrutinised by Blackburn Rovers boss Ray Harford, as he bids to bring in two major signings this summer. Dugarry, also believed to be on the hit-list of some of the Italian giants
FORMER Conservative councillor Mrs N Bramley-Haworth accuses me of not getting my facts right in connection with the mini-village that has planning permission on land off Cravens Brow on the Blackburn-Darwen boundary (Letters, May 6). Along with my colleagues
ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson has pleaded with the government to perform a U-turn and make time for her stalking Bill to be properly debated following its resurrection in the Lords. Government whip Michael Bates torpedoed it in the Commons on
LANCASHIRE teachers were today studying a report which said that more than one in five secondary schools should be shut over the next five years. The initial reaction from the Lancashire branch of the National Union of Teachers to the Audit Commission
RAILWAY enthusiasts were investigating today after more than a dozen travellers' caravans moved on to land near the recently opened East Lancashire railway line between Rawtenstall and Ramsbottom. According to residents they moved in with the caravans
NAME: Peter Gardiner CLUB: Oswaldtwistle Immanuel AGE: 30 NATIONALITY: Australian HEIGHT: 5'11" BATTING: Right hand BEST BATTING: 132 not out in Ryden East League (Scotland) against Poloc. BOWLING: Left arm BEST BOWLING: Six for 34 against Kirkcaldy in
SUB-POST offices are an increasingly frequent target for armed robbery. A staggering 1,400 are attacked each year. Clearly, those who run them are at risk and deserve the fullest protection. But if these attacks cannot be totally prevented, then those
"YES it hurt. Yes it worked." Such is the two-sentence slogan of the trailing Tories' fight-back campaign. Reminding voters of the pain inflicted upon them - high taxes, job losses, negative equity and so on - is an amazingly high-risk strategy. For it
ORGANISERS of a village school's centenary celebrations are still searching for past pupils and teachers. Staff at Barrowford Primary School are planning to mark its 100th 'birthday' with a series of events over the summer and autumn. The highlight is
BRITAIN'S first woman Chief Constable has been rewarded for her achievements in Lancashire with a major award. Pauline Clare, who created history when she was chosen to head the force last year, was presented with the North West Woman of Achievement Award
MOTORWAY contractors were today blamed when a heavy rock smashed through a farmhouse roof after a "controlled" explosion over 300 yards away. Mr Bill Parker, of Peel Fold Farm, Knuzden, was horrified to discover a gaping hole in his roof after being warned
