UNIFORM firm Simon Jersey has enjoyed a record-breaking sales meeting. The Altham firm saw 42 representatives from 23 overseas distributors attend its annual exports conference in Amsterdam. Exports increase by 42 per cent in the first quarter of this
FIRMS in East Lancashire are being warned to beware of dodgy surveyors offering huge savings on business rates. The firms offer to help companies appeal against their rates but charge large fees just for getting an application lodged. Two directors of
CONTROVERSIAL plans to re-open a quarry near Accrington could soon be approved by councillors. Lancashire County Council officers are recommending the go-ahead for plans for land to the north of Mitchell's House Reservoir, off King's Highway, to be quarried
AN ACORN planted innocently by a schoolboy 35 years ago looks set to produce an entire woodland. David Turner buried the acorn in the family garden in Glendale Drive, Mellor, when he was five. Now hundreds of acorns from the thriving oak tree are to be
THERE was standing-room only at Blackburn Cathedral as hundreds of people attended a memorial service to broadcaster Russell Harty. Crowds who waited outside to glimpse celebrities were disappointed. For on a humid summer's day, it was the townspeople
RAIN clouds cast a shadow over hundreds of queuing fans, but nothing could quell their determination to meet guitar legend Hank Marvin. The former Shadows member hosted a masterclass at Clitheroe Civic Hall, which attracted music enthusiasts from across
FIREFIGHTERS have been prevented from reaching fires by a new parking scheme which has left roads blocked and could have put lives at risk. Now highways bosses have agreed to alter the controversial residents-only parking bays in the Infirmary area of
CRUMBLING schools in Blackburn are set to have almost £1 million spent on them - but education chiefs have no idea if it is enough. Blackburn with Darwen Council looks likely to set its first ever schools maintenance budget at £976,000 for the last half
AUTHORESS Benita Moore - whose writing captured the hearts of her native East Lancashire - has lost her fight for life just a fortnight after being honoured with an MBE. Benita was battling against cancer in Blackburn's East Lancashire Hospice when news
A PLAN for a McDonalds-style burger bar and takeaway in a cobbled conservation area looks to have had its chips, despite a claim it could revive a "dying" area. Planners are strongly opposing an application to open the restaurant in Bank Street, Rawtenstall
NEXT year, sees the centenary of the outbreak of the Boer War, in which troops of the British Empire fought the Boers of South Africa. This was the war where we first reckoned 'our boys will be home for Christmas.' It turned out rather differently: a
HIGHWAYS bosses in Blackburn are going back to the drawing board after firefighters complained that a new parking scheme has left roads blocked to fire engines. Surely, when planners are drawing up schemes to calm traffic, they must take into account
TO Kenny Dalglish she was affectionately known as "Pet" and to many football fans as "Annie the Nanny" when she escorts the team mascot on to the pitch. These were some of the details of Ann Barry's demanding job as official photographer at Blackburn
"MANIC Stressed Teachers" are counting down to a rock night at Mount Carmel RC High School in Accrington. The five-strong band, all members of staff, will be performing a gig on Friday at 8pm in aid of school funds. They are science technician Eileen
BURNLEY'S former "First Lady" has stepped down from another post in public life. Councillor Enid Tate, now Deputy Mayor, has retired as a Pennine magistrate weeks after handing over the civic chain but it doesn't mean the former head teacher will have
BURNLEY today denied turning to a Manchester firm of solicitors in their bid to find new cash, writes NEIL BRAMWELL. Sources claim the club approached Addleshaw and Booth, a firm the club has used for several years, asking for help in securing investment
SEBASTIEN Perez revealed last night that the 'spirit' of English football was the main reason why he agreed to a £3 million move from Bastia to Blackburn Rovers, writes PETER WHITE. And the versatile French star also proved he was a man of his word -
BEWARE Batistuta and be on guard for Ortega too - that's the warning from Blackburn Rovers boss Roy Hodgson for England as World Cup dreams of glory go on the line against Argentina in St Etienne tonight, writes ANDY NEILD. Hodgson knows all about the
A NEW multi-million pound factory which will create around 20 jobs will be officially opened this week. Weltonhurst Ltd's new site in Centurion Way, Blackburn, houses workers from the firm's Bottomcroft Mill in Darwen and from sister company P D Plastics
GREEN-FINGERED staff took to the patio to help a garden grow! Employees from British Aeropsace, Samlesbury, gave up their spare time to help create a garden area at a home for adults with learning difficulties. The project at Priding House, Walton-le-Dale
THE number of business failures in the region is creeping up according to latest figures. The first half of 1998 has seen 1,945 collapses in the North West, up three per cent on the same period in 1997. Company liquidations rose to 890 and bankruptcies
PLANS for a housing scheme for young people have collapsed after protests from residents. Bradford and Northern Housing Association has pulled out of negotiations to use Tarleton House, Todmorden Road, Burnley, and the building is now to be offered for
A BLAZING row over North West Water broke out at Westminster when it was revealed that the privatised company's bosses had awarded themselves another massive pay rise. Shadow Environment Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw was set to write to Prime
TRIBUTES were paid to East Lancashire's fantastic army of fund-raisers as the curtain finally came down on the SuperScan Appeal last night. A celebration dinner was held to mark the end of the huge fund-raising drive which captured the hearts and minds
THE previous Government were very good at fiddling the unemployment figures to their advantage, but this Government goes even further. If you work one hour a week, you are not unemployed and, therefore, by this subtle change, the Government can boast
DUSTBIN wagons could be struck down by the millennium bug, causing rubbish to pile up on streets, councillors in Burnley have been warned. There could also be hardship for thousands on housing and other benefits if Year 2000 microchip problems bite. Failure
INSTEAD of North West Water spending money on guides on how to save water, they should spend their profits on preserving the rain water (LET, June 24). Living in an area of Lancashire with a high rainfall, you get sick of the familiar 'Save water' and
REGARDING the by-election caused in Cliviger with Worsthorne by Roger Craig's decision to live in Scotland, I would just query Labour's claim that they weren't informed of his decision to quit until after the local elections were held. Everyone in the
CAN readers help me to trace members of my 'other' family? My mother and father were divorced in 1955 and I would like to know if I have any family from my father's subsequent marriage. My father was Harold Haslope and the only other member of the family
WITH the holiday season now in full swing, please will you spare more than a thought for children who, without our help, will never get away at all? They are young kidney patients whose lives depend on dialysis and whose families are suffering the financial
LANCASHIRE zoomed into second spot with their third championship win on the trot at Edgbaston. Now hope is growing that they might end the Old Trafford title famine stretching back to 1934 when they last captured it outright. And while Andy Flintoff,
MAY we thank the wonderful people of Blackburn and Darwen who have donated so generously to the Luke Hill Florida Appeal? The events such as the Bank Holiday pub crawl around Ewood, Mill Hill, Griffin and Montague Street and the Les Cross hair cut at
PAUL Atherton (Letters, June 16) suggested that footbridges over and tunnels under our roads would be more sensible and infinitely preferable to anti-speed bumps and other traffic-calming measures. As most of the roads in Darwen have houses on both sides
YOUNG World Cup fans were delighted to receive their prizes of "Ultimate Football" books by Ivor Baddiel, as winners of our NIE sports writing competition. Four prizewinners: Phillippa Thirkettle, Valencia Chambers, Ryan McMurray and Andrew Holden, are
IT IS easy to understand the anger and frustration of the black community in London which led to the alarming scenes outside the public inquiry into the racist murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence. But whatever the Nation of Islam representatives
THERE are far more unnecessary obstructions littering the pavements than those which Blackburn with Darwen Council has targeted. Yet it appears it is either ignoring, or has overlooked them. I refer in particular to signposts without signs and street
CO-OPERATION and communication were the themes of an Industry Day at Peel Park County Primary School, Accrington. After a day of hectic activity, designing and printing T-shirts, producing carrier bags and sandwiches, some children sent us their own account
ENVIRONMENTAL projects across Burnley have been given a £200,000 boost to improve to footpaths, bridleways and schools. The money has been provided by the owners of landfill sites in Burnley, UK Waste and Burnley Council. UK Waste has the option of paying
PLANS to ease the pressure on "unsatisfactory" sewers in Nelson have been submitted to Lancashire County Council. Environment Agency bosses say 12 overflows have been struggling to cope with increased water flows during heavy rain. The problem is made
STAFF at a Rossendale Co-op have a double reason to celebrate. The United Norwest Store at Whitworth is the company's "Store of the Year" and manager Trevor Unsworth and his 23 staff have been well rewarded. Trevor, 53, of Staghills Road, Newchurch-in-Rossendale
A MAN facing an attempted murder charge has died from a suspected drugs overdose at an East Lancashire hotel. Simon Cotzec, 35, of Redruth Street, Burnley, collapsed at Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn, on Sunday night. Police were alerted by paramedics who
SUNDERLAND look poised to gazump Luton Town and pinch out-of-contract Gerry Harrison from Turf Moor. The Burnley utility player is believed to be talking to the First Division side about a move to the Stadium of Light. And, even apart from the financial
