Archive

  • Rising cost of policing 2000 party

    THE bill for policing Lancashire's millennium celebrations looks set to top £600,000. Police chiefs had originally set aside half a million pounds in readiness for New Year's Eve 1999. But Lancashire police bosses have since revealed the final cost of

  • Health chief raps 'wonder' flu jab

    EAST Lancashire's public health boss today questioned the effectiveness of a new flu 'wonder' drug as experts warned demand for it could cripple health authorities across the UK. Dr Stephen Morton, director of public health at East Lancashire Health Authority

  • Plea for halt on rural traffic

    TRAFFIC on Lancashire's rural roads could almost double over the next 30 years if action is not taken to stop it, according to a new report. The Council for the Protection of Rural England is calling for national and local government to take steps to

  • Davis set to return to action

    STEVE Davis is in line for a return to the Clarets squad for tomorrow night's visit of Bournemouth after nearly three weeks out with a calf strain. And Mark Robertson will also come into the frame after Burnley boss Stan Ternent again secured his release

  • Kidd happy to take the flak

    BRIAN Kidd is quite happy to act as 'minder' to his players - deflecting any criticism of them on to his own shoulders to help build up their confidence. The Blackburn Rovers boss invited anyone unhappy with the rebuilding job he has undertaken at Ewood

  • Events in East Lancashire / North West on Friday, September 3rd

    Flower Festival, Hillside Methodist Church, Brinscall, 10am-9pm. RNLI Charity Shop, Lord Street West, Blackburn, 10am-4pm. Accrington Camera Club meet Prime Centre, Rishton, 7.45pm. Auction, Whalley Road United Reformed Church, Accrington, 7pm. Jack Straw

  • Teenager in 80 mph car chase

    A TEENAGER who led police on a high speed chase - clocking up 80 mph on a 30 mph road - has avoided being sent to jail. Jonathan Ryan Newhouse, 19, was given a combination order by Burnley magistrates, who told him he could have killed himself. Would-be

  • School on line for celebration

    Valerie Cowan's Web World SPRING Hill County Primary School in Accrington first opened its doors on September 30, 1899. A hundred years on it is planning a major celebration - with a little help from the internet. The Exchange Street school is using its

  • NON LEAGUE SOCCER: Darwen double keep promotion push going

    Blackpool Mechanics 0 Darwen 2 DARWEN'S promotion bid is gathering momentum after two first half strikes sank struggling Mechanics at Jepson Way. The Anchormen moved up to fourth in the First North Western Trains Second Division table after comfortably

  • TEN YEARS AGO: County 'crack' crusade

    LANCASHIRE went on a "crack" alert as American police and drugs experts launched a crusade against the killer drug. The experts from Washington DC warned that the cocaine-based drug could reach epidemic proportions in the UK. And police chiefs holding

  • LOCAL CRICKET: Italian job is my long-term goal says Scuderi

    JOE Scuderi is relishing the prospect of county cricket next year - but his long-term goal is to help establish Italy as a world cricketing force. The 30-year-old Colne pro was delighted to hear yesterday that Lancashire were going ahead with their attempts

  • ATHLETICS: First among equals

    AFTER 10 races and 66 miles of racing over road, fell, towpath and trail, Gary Wilkinson and Anthony Waterworth could not be separated and were declared joint winners of the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix. With just last Saturday's multi-terrain race at

  • Pedal winners!

    BROCKHALL-based race team SIS Racing won one of the most prestigious events of the race calendar in their first season on the circuit. Brothers Chris and Ed Nicoll led the charge in the 33-mile event with Chris crossing the line first to take the title

  • COUNTY CRICKET: Field day

    CHRIS Schofield can look forward to a place on the England A tour of New Zealand and Bangladesh this winter after a career best performance for Lancashire against Durham yesterday. The 20-year-old leg spinner claimed five wickets in an innings for the

  • Encore for curtain raiser

    ORGANISERS were thrilled after their first ever pre-season football tournament proved to be a huge success. The curtain-raiser to the new season attracted senior and junior sides from across East Lancashire while teams from as far as Liverpool and Everton

  • Why is Hague aiding Ulster wreckers?

    WHATEVER substance there may be in William Hague's criticism of the government's allowing the release of republican and loyalist prisoners while the violence in Ulster continues, his attack on the Northern Ireland policy is nevertheless dangerous and

  • 'Junk' calls nuisance

    THERE isn't a week goes by that I don't receive unsolicited phone calls trying to sell me something - double glazing, fitted kitchens; the list is endless. These annoying people try all types of gimmicks to engage you in a sales conversation, from "I'm

  • Sunday League appoint physio

    THE Blackburn Sunday League has recruited a physiotherapist to attend league games this season. The one-season experiment begins when the league kicks off at Pleasington Playing Fields this Sunday where Sean Riley will be on call to attend to injuries

  • Grades gained by hard work

    JOHN Blunt in his article 'A lesson in exams' (LET, August 25) implied A-levels had been devalued. As a mother of a student, I strongly disagree with his comments. My son has recently gained grade-A in five subjects. Easy? No, it has required two years

  • SUPERBIKES: I'll play it cool if Chili is hot: Foggy

    IF CARL Fogarty had asked Frankie Chili to do him a favour exactly one year ago, the reply would have been spicier than the hottest chilli pepper. The Italian was all set to poop the party by taking both race wins at Foggy's favourite track of Assen,

  • Coffee time for appeal

    IF your life has been touched by the sadness of cancer you may like to help Macmillan Cancer Relief in the fight against the disease by joining the World's Biggest Coffee Morning on October 1. You can hold your event at home, work, school or shop, all

  • GOLF: Weekly results round-up

    Noble Trophy: winner S Whittaker 77-13-64; 1st Div, I J Ready 67-2-65; 2nd Div D Haworth 79-13-66 after a card play-off; 3rd Div S Hall 83-18-65. JUNIOR Inter Town Championship - League Champions: Accrington Junior Team. Singles Knockout Trophy: 1 Richard

  • Apology called for

    I WAS astonished when I read (LET, August 23) about the privately-owned land in Hapton which had been temporarily leased by its owner to the Parish Council. The money raised to cultivate half this land was raised by the Herculean efforts of the clerk

  • Clamp blitz a big success

    HAVING read 'Drive tax cheats off the streets' (Letters, August 24), I feel obliged to respond on behalf of my officers who conducted this operation with the DVLA Wheelclamping Unit. This unit was invited to visit the area as they have statutory powers

  • Fresh bid to breathe new life into market

    TALKS are taking place to try to improve the viability of Padiham market. Income is steadily dropping at the open air market which operates on three days a week with space for 48 stalls. In his annual report on council activities, chief executive Roger

  • Carpet firm in £12m takeover

    CARPET and floorcovering group Gaskell today announced a multi-million bid for a rival manufacturer. The Altham-based firm, which employs several hundred at Gaskell Carpets, Rishton, and Gaskell Textiles, Clayton-le-Moors and Oswaldtwistle, revealed the

  • Rovers manager happy to take the flak

    BRIAN Kidd is quite happy to act as 'minder' to his players - deflecting any criticism of them on to his own shoulders to help build up their confidence. The Blackburn Rovers boss invited anyone unhappy with the rebuilding job he has undertaken at Ewood

  • Seminar on rights at work

    FIRMS are being urged to be aware of new legislation giving employees new rights. Over the next 18 months, a series of new laws come into force covering areas such as trade union recognition, unpaid leave for family emergencies and extension of maternity

  • Bin bags may get the heave-ho

    HOUSEHOLDERS in Hyndburn may get wheelie bins in future after refuse collection bosses carry out a study. The council's environmental services committee has agreed to pay for an investigation into whether new bins will improve the service. Conservative

  • Allied pile on the sales

    TAKEOVER target Allied Carpets has unveiled more evidence of its dramatic turnaround in fortunes announcing a jump of more than 16 per cent in its latest weekly sales figures. The group - which has a site in Blackburn - has received takeover approaches

  • ATHLETICS: Lee's Northern call

    PENDLE'S Lee McCash has been selected for the North of England under 23 team which will compete against teams from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the South and the Midlands at Derby this weekend. Lee, who is entered in the 3000m, will join another Pendle athlete

  • Americans will spring ahead

    THE new owners of a bed spring factory are continuing with expansion plans. American-based Leggett & Platt bought Wellhouse Wire Products in Barnoldswick from bed giant Silentnight earlier this month. And the firm is pressing ahead with plans to expand

  • Superstore bank plan raises fears

    A SCHEME to incorporate a bank branch into the new Morrisons superstore about to open in Nelson has fallen foul of planners, who are concerned about the number of empty shops in the town centre. One in five shops is unused and Pendle Council's senior

  • CYCLING: Fraser thrills on the hills

    THE 1999 Hill Climb Championship of the North Lancashire Road Club was held on Close Brow, near Rishton, as it has been for more than 40 years. Winner of the championship with a time of 2mins 04.5secs for the one-in-six ascent, was Fraser Snape of Read

  • Woman, 88, attacked in her own home

    AN 88-year-old woman was viciously attacked in her own home after being targeted by burglars for the fourth time. The pensioner, who lives alone in Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, was forced upstairs by a man who broke into the rear of the house at about 11.30am

  • JUNIOR CRICKET: Spot on Jon's final say for Burnley

    SKIPPER Jonathan Clare led by example, top scoring with 22 and taking one wicket for five runs, as Burnley Cricket Club's Under-13s beat Rawtenstall in the Lancashire Colts League final. Burnley batted first on their home ground and adedd 95 runs to the

  • SOCCER: North End throw away two-goal lead

    Division Two: Reading 2 Preston North End 2 DAVID Moyes felt more like a beaten manager last night despite seeing Preston pick up a point he would probably have been happy with at the start. Moyes looked on in horror as Preston squandered a two goal lead

  • NON LEAGUE SOCCER: Easy for Nelson - in the end

    Nelson 3 Squires Gate 0 NELSON continued their good start to the season with a comfortable win over last season's championship contenders Squires Gate in the First North Western Trains League Second Division. Gate made a promising start, but were given

  • ATHLETICS: Dave tops in Golf

    ROSSSENDALE Harriers were top team at the 5.5 mile Golf Ball Fell Race last Wednesday. Dave Lewis took victory by an 11 second margin to head the team, Mervyn Keys - returning to competition after three months absence through injury - was fifth, and Mark

  • Up the junction: Parking case of a singer's Rolls

    SINGER Joel David struck a sour note with a policeman when he parked his Rolls Royce outside the restaurant where he works. The entertainer ended up in court accused of obstructing the road. But after magistrates threw out the case, Joel says he will

  • Discord as Shearer calls the Toon

    ROBSON is the man to manage Newcastle United. And Jerome should be appointed as his number two. While they're at it, Jimmy Nail would make a good defensive coach and Ant and Dec could do a job with the youth system. For Newcastle United FC plc is a joke

  • Race watchdog councillor resigns

    A LABOUR councillor has dramatically quit a troubled race watchdog organisation. He says he saw people being pressured to vote a certain way in internal elections. Blackburn with Darwen Councillor Salim Mulla has added his voice to that of a founder member

  • ATHLETICS: Gowans fine o'er Pendle

    PENDLE must be Debbie Gowans's favourite hill. Last year she earned selection for the Lancashire team at the Half Tour trial race, and on Saturday she was the winning lady in the Pendle Fell Race. Thirty-five-year-old Debbie is one of Accrington Road

  • FIVE YEARS AGO: Laser fund fun day

    BIG-HEARTED pub regulars helped raise more than £450 for Sarahlouise Bennett who has a large port wine birthmark. They flocked to a fun day at the Holehouse pub in Blackburn to give a big boost to the charity that is helping to pay for laser treatment

  • LOCAL SOCCER: Ribchester 4 Barnoldswick PR 1

    SOCCER: Unveiling their new colours and two new signings in Southworth and man-of-the-match Steve Green, Ribchester made a great start to the season with a 4-1 victory over East Lancashire rivals Barnoldswick PR in Division Two of the East Lancashire

  • A right royal observation

    THOUGH it is less clear what he has succeeded at than what he has succeeded to by virtue of his birth, Prince Edward's bashing of the Brits in an interview in America for their tendency to "hate anyone who succeeds" is a right royal observation. It is

  • Seaside car park shambles

    I WOULD just like to warn readers about the complete shambles of parking in Blackpool. On some streets you can park all night on double yellow lines, but on others you will get a ticket in a few minutes. How are you to know which is which? You will find

  • ATHLETICS: Mark stars at elite meet

    MARK Brown won the bronze medal at last weekend's Paralympic Revival meeting in Germany in his first-ever 800m race. Sponsored by German prosthetics company Ottobock, the games are for amputees only (Mark has lost an arm). They take place every two years

  • LOCAL CRICKET: Fitz spoils the Attock celebration

    ATTOCK and Millennium finished level on points at the top of the Accrington and District League A Division after both teams won their final matches on Saturday. Paul Fitzpatrick of Taverners A, again proved to be the thorn in Attock's side as he hit a

  • EAST LANCASHIRE LEAGUE: Worsthorne FC 1 Whinney Hill Res FC 0

    THE opening day of the East Lancashire League programme saw Division One new boys Whinney Hill Res travel to Worsthorne for a lesson in top flight survival - and they almost passed the initiation with flying colours. For despite an obvious chasm in both

  • Health info one-sided

    I THOUGHT your supplement (LET, August 17) 'Best of Health,' was very informative, except for the section called 'Looking after your teeth.' Most of the advice was excellent, but the part concerning water fluoridation was misleading. I thought it was

  • Cash doubts fail to halt homes sale programme

    BURNLEY will spend another £265,000 on its housing transfer plans despite "niggling doubts" that it may not go ahead. Council housing chiefs decided last night to resume major spending on setting up the sell-off of the town's entire council house stock

  • Key defender set to return for Clarets

    STEVE Davis is in line for a return to the Clarets squad for tomorrow night's visit of Bournemouth after nearly three weeks out with a calf strain. And Mark Robertson will also come into the frame after Burnley boss Stan Ternent again secured his release

  • Walkabout gives food for thought

    TRADERS, residents and planning chiefs took a tour of Accrington to discuss ways of sprucing up the town centre. More than 50 people joined members of the newly-formed town centre regeneration board to visit various sites in the main shopping area. They

  • Quality award for fast-growing Pentagon

    A SECURITY firm has been awarded a quality stamp of approval. Rawtenstall-based Pentagon Security Services, which has doubled in size over the over the past 18 months, has been presented with the ISO9002 standard. The firm employs 160 staff nationwide

  • Parade of the fashion plates

    Food News, with Amanda Killelea FOODIES and fashion devotees alike will relish the news that another Feast of Fashion extravaganza is to be held this year. Last year's event hosted by star chef Andrew Nutter and Sunday Best of Rawtenstall, the UK Fashion

  • ATHLETICS: Laura lands England slot

    CHORLEY schoolgirl Laura Hughes has won a place in the England Under 20 team to compete in the World Fell Championship in Malaysia. Laura is only 15 years old, and is the newly crowned English Under 16 Champion. She won her place by finishing second in

  • CYCLING: Ebbrell leads East Lancs contingent

    EAST Lancashire-based riders produced a number of creditable performances in the annual 25-mile time trial organised by the Nelson Wheelers Cycling Club and held on the Garstang course on Sunday morning. Best placed of our local riders was Dave Ebbrell

  • ATHLETICS: Louise pushes for top

    LOUISE Dickinson pushed herself towards the top of the National Rankings on Monday when she sliced nearly a second off her best time for 200m. The Under 13 Lancashire Champion recorded 27.1 seconds at Trafford, a time that would have placed her fourth

  • GOLF: Nick joins the England men

    TEENAGE starlet Nick Dougherty has been rewarded for another outstanding season with a first call-up to the England men's team. The 17-year-old Shaw Hill ace has been drafted into England's four-man team for the Audi World Amateur Masters currently taking

  • LOCAL CRICKET: Cumber in Lord's slumber

    WHALLEY'S David Pearson and Paul Beech of Barnoldswick could not prevent Cumberland slumping to an eight-wicket defeat to Bedfordshire in the final of the ECB 38 County Cup final at Lord's yesterday. Pearson, the former East Lancashire batsman, helped

  • CYCLING: Organiser voices fears for future

    IN HIS summary of the event in the results sheet of the recent 12 hour time trial organised for the 70th year by the Lancashire Road Club, organiser Jack Roughley of Westhoughton, expressed his concern for the future of this major promotion in the North

  • Party man's coma death probed

    AN investigation has been launched into the death of a man who spent several weeks in a coma after apparently taking drugs at a party. Stephen Mark Blayden, of Maria Street, Darwen, died on August 20 at the intensive care unit of Queen's Park Hospital

  • Woman, 88, attacked in her own home

    AN 88-year-old woman was viciously attacked in her own home after being targeted by burglars for the fourth time. The pensioner, who lives alone in Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, was forced upstairs by a man who broke into the rear of the house at about 11.30am