BOSSES AT Beardwood High School say they anticipate no problems with teaching unions over a decision to teach boys and girls separately to improve exam results. Staff at the Preston New Road school voted in favour of the move at a meeting last night prompting
PENSIONERS across East Lancashire have joined calls for a review of the current TV licence payment structure for older people. They hope Darwen MP Janet Anderson, in her capacity of Broadcasting Minister, will speed up Government plans to make the system
ANGRY villagers hope poster power will help persuade a planning inspector not to allow a controversial homes plan to go ahead. Hundreds of posters opposing a move to earmark land in Trawden for building, have been put through letterboxes in the village
A MINISTER'S son stole his father's credit card and got cash to fund his addiction to gaming machines. And Blackburn magistrates heard that the Rev Peter Hallett had reported his son to the police for the offence, which took place while he was on bail
WOLVES RES 3 BURNLEY RES 0 MARK Winstanley and Michael Williams made surprise returns in a Burnley shirt last night as the transfer-listed pair were drafted in to help out an inexperienced side at Wolves. But the pair were unable to stop the Clarets staying
TRADING standards bosses have issued a 10-point plan to job seekers who are tempted by working from home schemes which turn out to be a con. More than 60 suspect homeworking schemes were uncovered between July and September. Adverts for the schemes usually
PAUL Crichton is set to return to Turf Moor in a £100,000 deal to fill the goalkeeper's jersey vacated by Gavin Ward. The West Brom keeper will become Stan Ternent's first cash signing since his appointment as Burnley boss in June. But even if the deal
A WAR veteran hit out at yobs who stole a symbolic wooden cross from a garden of remembrance outside Accrington Market Hall. Pensioner and war hero Jimmy Allen had placed the cross in memory of his friend, Pilot Officer Cyril Barton, and was horrified
A CHEMICAL tanker smash triggered fears of a massive explosion while two car drivers were still seriously injured and trapped in their vehicles on Bull Hill, Darwen. Firefighters cut the men free as they feared a spark could set light to the tanker's
AT TIMES, the depravity of the criminal scum in our community beggars belief. For can there be any lower life-form than those who tried to break into the home of motor-cyclist Stephen Baron while he lies in hospital fighting for his life after an horrific
CALLING all ex angels -- your hospital needs you! A national shortage of nurses has prompted Burnley health trust to call on former staff who have left the profession to consider a return to duty. Managers are organising a course aimed at easing them
LIONS, tigers, snakes and parrots are now welcome daily visitors to Burnley's Rosegrove Infant School. The school's 150 pupils have been involved in a 12-month programme to refurbish and brighten up their playground. Headteacher Mrs Angela Barker said
GRUMBLERS who complain that all Burnley's regeneration cash is being pumped into the run-down Daneshouse district were slammed by council housing chairman Rafique Malik. Councillors heard that other areas were pointing the finger at Daneshouse as they
GRANTS are available to help improve the appearance of commercial properties on two of the main roads into Burnley. Owners in Accrington Road and Colne Road, Burnley can now apply for "Gateway grants'' to improve the front of their buildings. A new project
POLICE are continuing to investigate the death of 18-month-old Bethany Smithson of Victoria Street Rishton, who died in Blackburn Infirmary on Sunday evening. Police sealed off the house after it was reported the tot had fallen out of her pushchair. A
AN Oswaldtwistle man abducted a 10 year old boy in Blackburn town centre on a Saturday afternoon. Blackburn magistrates heard that the boy's shouts of 'no, no,' and the tears of his eight-year-old friend alerted a security officer. Anthony Eaves, 28,
Where would we be without our friends? WE'LL spend money on them, give them the clothes off our backs and see them more than our partners! The British will do anything for best friends. Many of us make a few key friendships at school, work, on holiday
A STUDY of Britain's mammals has won a young Blackburn girl a top environmental prize. Ten-year-old Samantha Claxton, of Sandringham Close, Pleckgate, won the Whitbread Young Environmentalist of the Year title in a competition organised by the Young People's
VANDALS have targeted the home of a motorcyclist who is fighting for his life in hospital after an horrific crash. Stephen Baron, 51, of Carnforth Close, Blackburn, suffered serious back and chest injuries when he was thrown from his motorbike in the
BREWERY bosses are hoping the offer of free beer will tempt a 20ft man at the centre of a sabotaged advertising campaign back to his post. No Nonsense Man was fastened to an advertising hoarding on Bolton Road, Blackburn, last month as part of a new £10
FORMER mayor of Blackburn Reginald Norman Stuart Edwards, has died at the age of 84 after a long illness. Mr Edwards was mayor in the 1981/82 council year and, along with his wife, Edith, who died in 1985, raised £30,000 for the Blackburn Hospice. He
A FORMER headteacher of a Rossendale comprehensive school has captured his memories in a book. George Nicholls was head of Alder Grange High School, Rawtenstall, from September, 1963, to December, 1966. Although he went on to head a Cheshire school for
POLICE and trading standards officers seized a large number of goods on sale in a secondhand shop as part of a pre-Christmas blitz on suspected stolen and unsafe goods. Nine police officers, three trading standards officers and environmental health officers
CLARETS' skipper Chris Brass insists he won't let thoughts of Manchester City cloud his mind when he leads Burnley out against Darlington in the FA Cup. A visit from the biggest club involved in the competition to date awaits the winners of tonight's
VANDALS have targeted the home of a motorcyclist who is fighting for his life in hospital after an horrific crash. Stephen Baron, 51, of Carnforth Close, Blackburn, suffered serious back and chest injuries when he was thrown from his motorbike in the
TIM Sherwood and Chris Sutton were at the heart of more transfer speculation today, but it was immediately cooled by Blackburn Rovers chief executive John Williams. The spectre of Tottenham Hotspur's new manager George Graham preparing the way for a massive
Blackburn Rambling Association meet at the Oddfellows Hall (Mind Centre entrance), Regent Street, 8pm. Slides. Christmas LIghts Switch On, Blackburn Shopping Centre, 6.30pm. Blackburn Drama Club presents "Passion Killers," by John Godber, in the College
LOCAL farmers have welcomed the Government's £120 million aid package for agriculture, although East Lancashire MPs are split over the hand-out. Agriculture Minister Nick Brown has promised the cash, including £60 million for hill farmers and £48 million
TELEVISION is part of everyone's life, but for millions of elderly people -- particularly the housebound and those living alone -- it is as much a close companion as a source of entertainment. Is it not unfair then, that, when it comes to the cost of
WE are trying to trace former college friends who were in the 'last of the J2' commerce class (1944-46) at Blackburn 'Tech,' to tell them that we are having another reunion lunch at the Blackburn College Scholars Restaurant on December 2. If they are
INSTEAD of wind farms proliferating in the countryside, an alternative would be tidal power stations. As many millions of tons of ballast as required could be harnessed in the form of old hulls made water-tight or custom-made tanks, which would be raised
REGARDING the Metrolink that East Lancashire's towns may create by bringing back the trams, I think it's a good idea. I go to Accrington three times a week, by bus, which only runs once an hour, which I don't think is a good service. When Stagecoach took
REGARDING the 'consultation' recently carried out by Blackburn Council on the closure of Shadsworth local housing office. On the form sent to tenants, the specific issue about Shadsworth was obscured first by submerging it in a borough-wide restructuring
COUNCIL chiefs in Burnley are seeking urgent talks with Lucas Body Systems, following the firm's announcement that it is to shed 85 jobs. The news from the town's biggest private sector employer, with 1,100 staff at the Eastern Avenue and Rossendale Road
COUNCIL tenants in Burnley are being invited to become company directors -- running the town's multi-million pound 'privatised' municipal housing operation. The town hall is looking for tenant members of the shadow board of management earmarked to take
DIANA, Princess of Wales, appears to have been forgotten by the people of Burnley just over a year after the town was flooded with flowers in her memory. Town hall bosses expected a big response when they sent out 30,000 newsletters inviting the public
"IT'S so unfair -- I hate you!" Yes, we've all laughed at Harry Enfield's Kevin the teenager, but does Kevin have a point? Life is never perfect at any age, but during those difficult teenage years, the world, and in particular our own families, may seem
TRADE union officials and management were due to meet today to discuss the future of 125 jobs hanging in the balance at one of the biggest firms in Pendle. Officers from the GMB's regional office in Manchester were expected at furniture makers Buoyant
EDUCATION bosses are searching for a new headteacher to take a troubled Pendle high school out of special measures imposed by Ofsted inspectors. The temporary £49,500-a-year appointment, described as an associate head, would be the fourth head at Mansfield
EDUCATION bosses are searching for a new headteacher to take a troubled Pendle high school out of special measures imposed by Ofsted inspectors. The temporary £49,500-a-year appointment, described as an associate head, would be the fourth head at Mansfield
