THE realisation that there was much more to painting than cleaning brushes and whitewashing walls opened up a whole new life for Walter Riley. Walter, of Blackburn Road, Great Harwood, left school at 15 with no qualifications but a talent for drawing
A BLAZE which wrecked a secondary school classroom yesterday is thought to have been started by papers piled too near an electric hob . Fire crews were called to Haslingden High School at noon yesterday after cleaning staff reported smoke billowing from
TRAVEL giant Airtours today splashed out £81 million on a holiday firm. The firm, which employs more than 1,000 at its East Lancashire sites, has moved into the telephone booking market by buying Direct Holidays. The acquisition is the latest in a huge
POLICE chiefs in East Lancashire have welcomed a ground-breaking move to have private security guards patrolling the area's streets and estates. Home Secretary Jack Straw unveiled plans to link up private firms with the police at the Association of Chief
RAIL campaigners have called for massive investment in East Lancashire to build new stations on the area's network. The Rail Development Society has criticised Railtrack for making a £380 million profit yet only planing to spend £4 million of it on new
Kristianstad 1 Blackburn Rovers 5 - Peter White's verdict A TOUR which began in trauma ended in triumph here in Kristianstad last night. Blackburn Rovers fielded their strongest team of the trip and were rewarded with the type of performance that showed
A FEW years back, the chairman of the jewellery chain Ratners rather foolishly dismissed his own product as "tat and rubbish" and wondered how any of his customers could bring themselves to buy it. Soon afterwards he had to resign and sell up. After all
CONMEN pretending to be council workmen and Benefits Agency officials have stolen nearly £1,000 from two pensioners. One stole £400 from an elderly householder in Highfield Road, Clitheroe, after pretending to be a council workman. He said he needed the
A CALL for a new strategy to help regions like the North West gear up for growth rather than decline was launched by the British Chambers of Commerce. A new document urged the Government to look further than the South East Yuppieland, and warned policymakers
JACK Straw beat the Tories in the election battle on who was toughest on crime. But that was a war of words - now is the time for the Home Secretary to deliver. But will the government's new Crime Reduction Strategy, which he was unveiling today, do that
SO the great 'A-board' fiasco is set to trundle on (LET, July 15). I for one, object to Blackburn Council wasting money hounding shopkeepers. I like displays outside shops. I likereading what's on offer on 'A-boards.' I like to look at the scooters and
HARD on the heels of John Prescott's bid to get car drivers in congested and polluted Britain to switch to public transport comes a timely call today for a big rail revival in the North West. For in rapping Railtrack for planning to spend just £4million
REGARDING the article 'Marriage vows plea' (LET, July 9), I think Mrs Margaret Baxter is quite right in suggesting that the marriage service be brought into the 1990s. There can't be many couples who don't live together beforehand and don't have young
FORMER journalist Clive Barnden has turned a midlife crisis into an honours degree. Clive, 51, has just gained his Fine Art degree after completing three years of study at the University of Central Lancashire. He specialised in time-based media, novelty
MANY political pundits blamed sleaze, corruption and 'cash for questions' as the main reason the last Tory government was unceremoniously booted out of office. Now, the present government finds it has work to do to restore a tarnished image as a result
COLD comfort could be on the way for residents in Burnley where councillors are being asked to approve a draft "Affordable Warmth Strategy" and consider action plans to tackle the problem. The main aims of the strategy are to ensure that households have
A FATHER-to-be gave police the wrong name because he didn't want to miss the birth of his son, Burnley magistrates heard. John Timothy Kershaw, 30, who had earlier been spotted driving under the influence of illicit and prescribed drugs, knew there was
ALISON Barrow is set to start a new career in corporate finance after graduating. Alison, 21, from Leyland, is joining Henry Cooke Corporate Finance in Manchester after completing her degree course at Salford University. Converted for the new archive
A NEW device aimed at taking the backache out of laying patios and paths has been launched. Park Products of Blackburn has developed a new machine which uses vacuum power to pick up and position paving slabs. The PAVAC machine, which runs off mains power
DEPARTMENT store group Debenhams has reported strong sales despite difficult conditions on the high street. The firm said its wide spread of stores across the country, including Blackburn, helped the group cope with an otherwise tough June for the high
PUPILS in Year Five at Meadowhead Junior School, Blackburn, have been awarded a certificate of completion of our Story Search reading scheme. Names of some of the children in the class are published here, the rest will appear next week. Well done to all
RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has called on the Prime Minister to act after a survey found many local businesses were struggling. The latest Chambers of Commerce survey, to which dozens of East Lancashire firms contribute, found that confidence in the
WE were all thrilled when our school won a Lancashire Evening Telegraph Newspapers in Education competition to find the best school newspaper of 1997. But the best bit was the prize of a visit to Helmshore Textile Museum by all year six pupils. We were
A LANDMARK case has been won against the VAT man over a dispute involving a Blackburn firm. Anthony Land, a franchisee of spectacle manufacturer Crown Eyeglass, took Customs & Excise to a tribunal over a ruling. VAT officers claimed that Mr Land,
AN ESTATE of 60 homes could be built on the site of a former textile mill if councillors give plans the go ahead. Developer Ribble Enterprises has applied to Pendle Council for planning permission to build the two and three storey houses with integral
FIVE people were arrested in dawn raids on a troubled area of Darwen yesterday - and one man even gave himself up rather than face being tracked down, police have revealed. Action to change face of the Darwen community is being stepped up as a major crackdown
AN ELDERLY farmer left battered and bruised by an horrific late-night attack by two robbers said today: "If I'd been a bit younger I would have seen them off." John Hanson, 81, still bears the marks where the masked raiders hit him with a hammer and kicked
LANDOWNERS and farmers fear that a rigid enforcement of a dog fouling act could pose an even greater risk to public health. If local authorities rigidly apply the 1996 Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act, which now relates to all publicly-owned land, they fear
THE worried parents of a critically ill two-year-old girl today spoke out in support of National Transplant Week as their daughter waited for a vital heart-swop operation. Little Teri Baron, who lives with mum Melanie in Leyburn Road, Blackburn, was admitted
CASH strapped members of the clergy in East Lancashire can swot up on money matters thanks to the publication of a free specialist financial guide. The information has been compiled after it was revealed a lack of interest in money can cause problems
A FORMER eyesore site in Colne is set to get cleaned up in more ways than one if a plan gets the green light. Anduff Holdings wants permission from Pendle Council to build a car wash on the former Evora mill site at the corner of Skipton Road and Byron
PROPOSALS to get people out of cars and on to public transport will not work because the Government will bow to pressure to water them down, East Lancashire environmentalists have warned. Deputy prime minister John Prescott has unveiled plans to tax company
AN author who wrote for eight years without daring to approach a publisher is finally making an impact on the literary world - thanks to one of East Lancashire's best-loved writers. And Blackburn-born Beryl Rushton's first book will contain a thank-you
Organ Recital, Blackburn Cathedral, 1-1.30pm. Tea Dance, Accrington Town Hall, 1.30-4.30pm. Lunches in the Cathedral Crypt, Blackburn, noon-2pm. In aid of the Lantern Fund. Summer playschemes in Blackburn and Darwen: Sudellside Community Centre, Darwen
IT is not the marriage service that wants changing (LET, July 9), it is the attitude of some people. Just because a number of people live together out of wedlock, doesn't make it right. Nor does having children out of wedlock. It is still living in sin
THE plan for GPs to perform operations in their own surgeries to reduce waiting lists (LET, July 15) is nothing new. GPs used to do this before big new hospitals were ever built. Many GPs are so busy with added new technology, budget-holding, etc. How
THE people of Limerick found out the hard way in 1691 that the word of William III was not to be trusted and the people of Glencoe in 1692 also realised it as they were being massacred. So it is not, I suppose, really surprising that people parading under
PETER MARTIN capped an Old Trafford floodlit spectacular by snatching a Lancashire victory off the last ball last night. The ice cool former England seamer, who hit the winning runs in Lancashire's Championship victory over Worcestershire at Lytham last
BLUES music, needlecraft and guided walks make up just some of the varied activities taking place across East Lancashire during the August Bank Holiday weekend. Between August 29 and 31, a series of leisure events will take place in the county. A full
A SEX pest exposed himself four times to a schoolgirl, a court heard. Burnley magistrates were told that Kevin Cowie also stood naked in view of an 11-year-old as she played with friends. Cowie, 34, the father of two daughters, of Carter Avenue, Hapton
ROY HODGSON saw Kevin Davies and Martin Dahlin fire the first serious shots last night in the battle to forge a new Blackburn Rovers strike force with Chris Sutton when the Premiership kicks off and declared: "That can only be good for me." Two-goal Dahlin
LIGHT shining from unauthorised advertising signs upset residents and annoyed the council. One resident even had to go and sleep in another bedroom, Hyndburn magistrates were told. London-based Citilite Limited was fined a total of £1,000 and ordered
OUR Story Search newspaper reading scheme also includes a pack of free books for each participating school to review and keep. Throughout the summer we will be publishing a selection of reviews from young people who have taken part in the project. The
PEOPLE are being invited to become champions of their communities as part of a new programme. Groundwork Blackburn and Ewood and Fernhurst Community Association have organised a series of events aimed at getting people to take action to improve their
KEEN walker Peter Fielding is planning a 127-mile trek to raise £1,000 for a special school. The Blackburn butcher will walk the complete length of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal over three days early next month. Peter, 59, from Brownhill Drive hopes to
COMMUNITIES across East Lancashire have just 10 days to submit bids for grants to create a Millennium Green. The Countryside Commission, which launched the Millennium Green project in 1996 with the help of £10 million lottery cash, aims to create at least
LANCASHIRE'S police force loses almost 12 days a year per officer through sickness, statistics have revealed. Average time off for illness in the county stands at 11.7 per year, putting Lancashire joint 19th in the list of 42 police forces across the
BLACKBURN Rovers said today they had not received any renewed approach from Rangers for Colin Hendry. And the club said today that they would not welcome a new bid following an initial expression of interest, believed to be some time ago. Ewood chief
JAMIE Hoyland was just a matter of miles away from Shrewsbury when the offer of a two-year contract combining playing with some coaching prompted a dramatic U-turn and a move to Third Division rivals Scarborough instead. Hoyland was on his way to sign
ROY HODGSON saw Kevin Davies and Martin Dahlin fire the first serious shots last night in the battle to forge a new Blackburn Rovers strike force with Chris Sutton when the Premiership kicks off and declared: "That can only be good for me." Two-goal Dahlin
NEW faces are set to arrive at Turf Moor with Burnley boss Stan Ternent confirming that he will be seeking reinforcements for his squad before the season kicks-off. Ternent has a group of 17 players with him here in Exeter for the club's pre-season training
TO HEAR Stuart had gone made me very sad He may not have been the greatest player we've had But he was committed in every way And for Blackburn Rovers he loved to play. At Ewood Park he's had six happy years Many fans held him so dear The Championship
BLACKBURN Rovers were given breathing space in their race to get Ewood Park ready for the first game of the season. Blackburn Council agreed to allow contractors McAlpine to work an extra two hours a day to complete the lower tier of the Darwen End stand
A NORTH West Water spokeswoman complacently claims (LET, July 15) that the company has 'cut leakage.' The same day, Ofwat figures showed that NWW is losing 127.4 million gallons per day through leaks. Can somebody help me to visualise what this volume
OVER recent months, certain 'facts' concerning Burnley have been reported - such as it has: the UK's highest suicide rate, its highest infant mortality rate and the greatest incidence of death from lung diseases. Since then, I have read that Burnley people
FURTHER to my recent reference to the congestion caused by the toilets in Market Avenue, Blackburn, being crammed in a corner, may I draw attention to another architectural folly, sanctioned by the town hall planning officers? I refer to the inapt canopy
A DRUNKEN single dad who was almost three times the drink drive limit was trapped inside his car after demolishing a wall. Burnley magistrates heard Terence James Frostick, 27, was unsteady on his feet and gave his breath test two and a half hours after
NEW faces are set to arrive at Turf Moor with Burnley boss Stan Ternent confirming that he will be seeking reinforcements for his squad before the season kicks-off. Ternent has a group of 17 players with him here in Exeter for the club's pre-season training
AN electronics firm has predicted the days are numbered for the humble household key! BSD Electronics of Great Harwood believes electronic access systems used by businesses could soon become standard in domestic properties. "The key has been a part of
Tuesday Topic, with Christine Rutter THE LIVELY tot, with her glitter-smeared eyebrows and locks scraped into a tiny bun, shifted furiously into a variety of ballet poses on the living room carpet. She was, without doubt, her mother's child. "There aren't
