THE Abbey agony deepened in East Lancashire today as thousands of investors continued their stampede on the bank. Former National and Provincial savers have jammed local branches to get their hands on big cash handouts awarded to society members following
A CHEQUE for more than £1 million of lottery cash was handed over as work began on the long-awaited sports hall and learner section extension at West Craven pool began. Councillors, leisure staff and other guests gathered at the Barnoldswick pool. David
RED-FACED Jack Straw today admitted dropping a major clanger in a controversial national newspaper article. The Blackburn MP referred to the East Lancashire Health Commission in a hard-hitting piece entitled 'Our Secret Society' - a fierce broadside on
ACCRINGTON Stanley face a tough examination at Witton Albion tomorrow. And new Stanley manager Tony Greenwood hopes his side can hit back after the narrow midweek defeat at Marine. Greenwood was busy trying to strengthen his squad today and he said: "
OFFICIALS attempting to establish the fate of student hostage Paul Wells are bracing themselves for a month of unrest during the Jammu Kashmir elections. Authorities in the province were forced to effectively put operations to free Paul, of Blackburn,
EAST LANCASHIRE motorists would do well to heed the warning issued after Blackburn magistrates jailed a man for three months in a road rage case. The private hire driver was found guilty of common assault and causing criminal damage after a confrontation
RAY Harford looks set to hit the Lira trail this weekend, when Italy's new league season gets under way. The Blackburn Rovers boss, who badly needs attacking reinforcements, is expected to use a free weekend to take in at least one Serie A game. And,
AUSSIE professional Matthew Mott has agreed terms with Church for the 1997 Lancashire League season. Spokesman Jack Houldsworth confirmed: "We've offered Matthew new terms and the likelihood is that he will return to Church." Converted for the new archive
LANCASHIRE today left their Championship worries behind at Old Trafford and headed south on their mission to clinch the one-day double. Defeat by Middlesex on a pitch which almost cost them 25 points was not ideal preparation for their second Lord's final
YOU don't have to be crazy to be in the Commons - but it might be a great career move, writes Bill Doult. Not only that, the sanity of North East Lancashire politicians is in doubt. Perish the thought. Our parliamentarians are clearly all as balanced
BRANDY the dog was in high spirits today, despite being stuck down a cliff overnight - with the rabbit she chased! The Airedale Terrier gave her owners the slip when she spotted the bunny. They ran after Brandy as she chased the rabbit near Pleasington
HOSPITAL bosses at Blackburn Infirmary have scrapped a plan to ask patients and staff to park their cars more than a mile away. The controversial park and ride proposal would have forced them to park at Queen's Park Hospital and catch a minibus to the
NIGEL Gleghorn turned his back on a host of Nationwide clubs to pledge his future to Burnley. And as a new chapter unfolds for the all-action midfielder, he instinctively knows he has made the right decision. Gleghorn's five-star man-of-the-match display
FRENCH farmers are importing calves into Britain for slaughter to exploit a loophole in EU subsidies to British farmers. British abattoirs are paying £5 a head to the importers and £80 to French farmers and receive for themselves £103.47 for each calf
THE GOVERNMENT will argue before the European Commission of Human Rights on Monday that parents in this country should keep the right to administer "reasonable chastisement." An application to the Commission is being brought after a man was acquitted
FIVE years ago hero neighbour Ray Finn rescued two young women from a blazing house in Nuttall Street, Blackburn. The quick-thinking computer technician kicked in the door to give terrified Julie Bradshaw and Sarah Thompson a chance to escape. Outraged
TEN years ago armed police swooped on the homes of known drug users in Burnley during a hunt for two raiders who held up chemist Ronald Spencer at his shop in Colne road at Duke Bar. The robbers threatened to kill the 47-year-old before fleeing with hard
RONNIE Baxter continued his excellent form in the Danish Open with a comprehensive 4-1 victory in the final over Leo Laurens of Belgium. Over 500 competitors from 12 nations started the tournament. Baxter, from Accrington, clinically converted his check-outs
CARL Fogarty's World Superbikes challenge is in danger of disintegrating this weekend in Assen. The twice world champion from Blackburn has struggled all season for consistency on his Honda RC45, but is fast running out of races with the championship
BLACKBURN Hawks have added a familiar sporting name to their ranks for the coming ice hockey season. Tom Burridge - son of much-travelled soccer goalkeeper John - has joined the Hawks squad. Seventeen-year-old Tom, a forward, is a player of considerable
GREAT Harwood and Rishton are planning a double celebration party. Well, that's the hope of Great Harwood's injured skipper Geoff Allen after last weekend's brilliant nine wicket victory over Settle. The Cliffe Park stalwart will be forced to sit out
A TEENAGER became a hero when he managed to rescue his family trapped in their smoke filled home. Andrew Blackledge managed to lower himself from a bedroom window and find a ladder so his mum Leslie and Stuart Cunliffe could escape from the house at The
LEARNER drivers in Pendle will have to travel miles to take the new theory tests because the Driving Standards Agency calculates distances as the crow flies, not by road miles. Pendle MP Gordon Prentice is backing them, pledging to raise the issue with
TURF Moor's record-signing Paul Barnes launches his Burnley career at Gillingham tomorrow - primed to forge the Second Division's most explosive striking partnership. And the 28-year-old striker is already polishing his shooting boots as he prepares to
A DRAMATIC armed raid involving a hostage and taking in towns across the county was the background for a Lancashire police exercise. It ended in a "siege" in Accrington and tested the police's contingency plans . Exercise Sandpiper involved the reconstruction
A PIONEERING scheme which is aimed at saving jobless young men from the scrapheap has been launched in Lancashire. The initiative is being introduced amid growing concerns that long-term unemployment is linked to drug abuse, rising crime levels and poverty
MILLIONAIRE Harrods boss Mohammed Al Fayed today earned a place in the hearts of pupils at a school after stepping in to give them a special gift. The big-hearted tycoon came up trumps when he heard about a fund-raising appeal to buy a new washing machine
THE future financial outlook for millions is grim. Why are pensions the forgotten political issue when a huge number of people in their 20s and 30s pay no pension contributions? To get a decent pension, at least 15 per cent of salary should be paid throughout
PARENTS have been urged to take extra care in a bid to ensure the new school year does not begin with a road tragedy. The appeal comes as Lancashire police increase patrols around school entrances in a bid to improve road safety. Residential estates and
