TOWER fever gripped Darwen as close to 3,000 people trudged across the windswept moors to wish the town's famous landmark a happy 100th birthday. Church bells rang as walkers, ranging from mothers with pushchairs to pensioners, made their way through
JOBLESS totals in East Lancashire could be three times higher than official figures, according to a shock survey. A report put together by a team of experts from Sheffield's Hallam University claims the real unemployment figure have been hidden by Conservative
MARTIN Edwards today denied that Blackburn Rovers had made a £6 million bid for Manchester United striker Andy Cole. Rovers, whose search for attacking re-inforcements has spread the length and breadth of Europe, were reported to have made the offer in
IT does not say much for the political acumen of this country's electorate that they threw out the Tories and elected New Labour whose Ministers, according to Walt Meadows (Letters, June 14) include a wishy-washy Heritage Secretary, a feeble Chancellor
BRIGHTLY coloured floats, dance troupes and vintage vehicles created a stunning spectacle at Rossendale Carnival. This year's carnival was organised for Rossendale Council by Mid-Pennine Arts and attracted more floats than in recent years. Family and
SHOCKED fruit-seller Yvonne Brogan hurried home to mend a leak - and emerged four hours later a blushing bride. She was whisked down the aisle by her scheming husband-to-be Malcolm Couzins, who brought forward their big day by five months without telling
VANDALS causing havoc at a bowling club have forced a major tournament to be switched to another venue. Fred-up members of Highfield Bowling Club, Blackburn, have re-routed their league competition to Queen's Park after persistent damage by young thugs
ADRIAN Heath is poised to snap up three new faces - with Holland's Second Division Player of the Season heading his European shopping list. The Lancashire Evening Telegraph can reveal tonight that the Clarets boss is close to sealing a deal with a Dutch
Ramsbottom v Rawtenstall A CUT eye, a bloody nose, a black eye and lots of bruised pride all needed nursing after Ramsbottom were held to tie against neighbours Rawtenstall. The last over of a see-sawing contest saw the Acre Bottom side throw away a victory
A MASS was held at St Philip's RC Church, Padiham, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ordination of parish priest Father Denis Dwyer. Father Dwyer has been at St Philip's since 1975 after serving in Bolton, Middleton and Sacred Heart, Accrington
ORPHANED ducklings were rescued by a police officer after their mother was killed on a motorway. Passing motorists contacted the police after spotting the six tiny creatures on the M65 at9.30am yesterday. PC Gordon Dickinson went out from Accrington to
AN order worth £425 million has brought another boost to Lancashire's aerospace industry. British Aerospace has secured a deal for Hawk aircraft from Australia worth more than £400 million. Australian Prime Minister John Howard confirmed his country would
CHECKOUT operator Christine Warman stunned colleagues when she revealed she was to appear on Mastermind - answering questions on dinosaurs! Christine swapped her usual seat at Tesco in Clitheroe for the famous black chair in the debating chamber at Cambridge
THE Home Secretary proved he is still a Jack of all trades despite his new political status. Blackburn MP Jack Straw was in Blackburn town centre to take questions from the public. And even though he has one of the most important jobs in the country,
MOTORISTS plagued by car crime could soon be offered a new safe haven to encourage them back into Blackburn town centre during the evening. Crooks have launched a blitz on unattended vehicles in recent years, prompting police to make tackling the problem
POLICE caught 50 motorcyclists with defective machines in a swoop in the Ribble Valley yesterday. The riders were stopped passing through Gisburn village in a day-long operation. The village is on a popular route to Devil's Bridge at Kirby Lonsdale, a
ORGANISERS of the biggest carnival in the North West were jubilant today after declaring the event a roaring success. The Accrington Lions' Carnival attracted thousands of people and raised just under £13,000 for good causes in Hyndburn. The biennial
LANCASHIRE were today reeling after one of the most embarrassing weekends in their history. On Saturday they collapsed to 51 all out, and a third consecutive championship defeat, by Glamorgan at Liverpool. It was their lowest total since 1977, their shortest
VANDALS wrecked a big day for Scouts and Guides with a paint spraying rampage at their new hut. Louts daubed graffiti all over the white paintwork outside St James Scout and Guide Hut, Earl Street, Blackburn, just hours before the official opening. Angry
ANGRY Blackburn Rovers fans claimed they were being priced out of following their heroes after the club announced soaring season ticket prices. The club defended the quoted figure of a 40% price increase, saying it was based on match day prices. But the
CHERRY Tree will play Ribblesdale Wanderers in the Vaux Ramsbottom Cup final after a magnificent unbeaten 58 from Lee Kennedy steered the league leaders to a hard-earned semi-final victory over Edenfield. The Blackburn club's professional, Naeem Ashraf
Lancashire League SEAMER Stuart Parker grabbed a magnificent 4 for 7 bowling return as Todmorden ran out easy six wickets winners at Church. The Church batting collapsed to 62 all out as Parker and Alex Scholefield, with three wickets, went to work. The
AT long last there is a move to spend more money on education. Chancellor Gordon Brown hinted that he was ready to introduce "flexibility" to allow money to be switched from social security to education. He was immediately pounced upon by Tories accusing
DISGRACED Tory Jonathan Aitken is the latest in a long line of political heavyweights to disappear beneath an avalanche of sleaze. It is no surprise that the British voting public has become cynical about its politicians. The sudden collapse of Mr Aitken's
TOWN halls across East Lancashire are set to share a £52 million jackpot earmarked for housing over the next five years. The cash, proceeds from council house sales, will go on building new homes and repairing run down and dilapidated estates. Burnley
REGARDING the article "Parking spaces will be slashed" (LET, June 17), the only thing that will do is drive shoppers further away from Blackburn town centre. Does this mean we will all get at least £20 off our road fund licence? Is the car becoming a
SOLAR power and recycled paper insulation became part of an environmentally friendly house project which goes on public view in Burnley this week. Morecambes Lodge, a detached property in Cemetery Lane, is being converted into offices and training rooms
Looking Back, with Eric Leaver THEY tramped proudly in their hundreds up to Darwen Tower yesterday to commemorate the day 100 years ago when the first sod was cut up on the moors for the building of the town's lasting Diamond Jubilee landmark tribute
HAS Julie Farrer (Letters, June 9) always been so fortunate that she has never needed to buy or sell used things? If so, I hope she remains that lucky. But I do resent her suggestion that all second-hand furniture shops are inconsiderate pedlars of "junk
MORE than 30 parents have lost their battle to get places for their children at Burnley's most popular high school. Of the 46 appeals against refusal of places at Ivy Bank High School, Burnley, only 13 were successful, according to figures from Lancashire
