A MAN was taken to hospital with head injuries after being attacked outside a Blackburn infants school. The man, who has not been named by police, was taken to Blackburn Infirmary following the incident outside Cedars Infants School, in Hawthorn Street
SLIM-line mother-of five Colette Smith shed seven-and-a-half stones in just 15 months so her children could see her trim. And now the 32-year-old mum from Chorley has been picked as the Lancashire winner of the Slimmer's World Woman of the Year, with
A SHORTAGE of vaccines used to combat a series of deadly diseases is sweeping across doctors' surgeries in East Lancashire, according to health chiefs. A national shortage of medicines has been highlighted by the British Medical Association and experts
A MILLENNIUM membership drive has been launched to attract new members to the Blackburn Rotaract Club. The Club meets twice monthly, and is part of a worldwide network of more than 6,000 clubs. It holds a wide range of activities and events throughout
A FIREFIGHTERS' union boss says his group is sticking to a wait and see policy on strike action after reaching stalemate on proposals to change pay and holiday entitlements. Tony Harris, of the Lancashire Fire Brigades' Union, said the ball is in the
Worthington Cup 2nd round 2nd leg: Blackburn Rovers v Portsmouth (1st leg 0-3) - Peter White's preview PORTSMOUTH'S outside hopes of retrieving a three-goal deficit in tonight's Worthington Cup tie at Ewood could well depend on the form of a Dad's Army
THE Worthington Cup has had its critics but you won't find Blackburn Rovers midfielder Wayne Gill giving the competition short shrift. And, even when faced with what should be the formality of finishing off Portsmouth at Ewood tonight, the tournament's
ORGANISERS of millennium celebrations across the North West gathered in Blackburn today as the town and region launched their plans for the year 2000. The New Millennium Experience Company, organisers of celebrations across the country, chose Blackburn
BOLTON Wanderers' Danish international midfielder Per Frandsen was today set to join Blackburn Rovers in a £1.75 million deal. The signing of the 29-year-old, for a fee which will rise to £2.25 million depending on appearances, will be a major tonic for
BURNLEY are hoping to bring international football back to Turf Moor after a four-year absence. The Clarets have written to the FA requesting an England fixture and are awaiting a response. Ideally, Burnley would like to stage a repeat of the under-21
ETHE fight against cancer received a huge tonic today with news that the area is set for a £2million lottery boost to help treat hundreds of East Lancashire patients. The Lancashire and Lakeland Radiotherapy Unit at Royal Preston Hospital has been invited
OFF to work she goes - 10-year-old dancer Rebecca White has already landed her first job as a dwarf in the pantomime Snow White. Rebecca, of Durham Road, Wilpshire, beat 150 children from all over the North West to one of the coveted parts in the Christmas
HALFORDS superstore in Burnley has been working with the police to prevent auto crime in the area. The store donated three security steering wheel disks which were entered into a prize draw and won by Raymond Judge, of Altham Street, and Stewart Hamilton
Alf Wright's Afternoon Music Hall, Blakey's Cafe Bar, King George's Hall, Blackburn, 4pm. The Rossendale Players present "The Winslow Boy," Bacup Leisure Hall, 7.30pm. Blackburn Artists' Society Exhibition of Paintings in Watercolour, Pastel and Oils,
A WEAKENED Bolton side booked their ticket into round three of the Worthington Cup within seven minutes of the opening whistle. Boss Colin Todd chose to rest the likes of Per Frandsen, Bob Taylor and Eidur Gudjohnsen but Wanderers still wrapped up the
ALEX Mathie became an instant hero last night as Preston pulled off an amazing second leg comeback at Deepdale to send First Division Sheffield United crashing out of the Worthington Cup second round. Two goals from on-loan Mathie followed a sensational
PAUL Baker bagged a hat-trick as Darwen maintained their fine start with a stunning victory over high-flying Alsager. Manager Steve Wilkes described his side's performance as the best of the season so far and with a steadier aim in front of goal they
A STUART Cole strike nine minutes into stoppage time denied Harwood a victory in this First North Western Trains League First Division clash. Striker Mark Walsh looked to have sealed the points for the Reds when he drilled a low shot into the bottom corner
JUST as Home Secretary Jack Straw unveiled the government's five-year strategy to cut 30 per cent of car crime and the £3 billion a year it costs, Police Federation chief Fred Broughton was launching a bitter attack on police numbers being slashed by
ASK yourself which "good cause" is more deserving of a grant from the lottery - hospitals wanting life-saving equipment to fight cancer or a multi-millionairess fashion designer doing up the historic house she has bought in London? And while there is
GAMES rarely come more one-sided than this, but even teams as comprehensively outplayed as Flixton sometimes get lucky and steal a point. It happened at Victory Park last night where for long periods, especially in the first half, the visitors goalmouth
MAY I thank the two bus drivers who handed in my bag with contents intact after I left it on the 11.40am No.10 bus from Blackburn Boulevard on September 13. As a pensioner, I was grateful that there are still some 'Good Samaritans' about. FREDA LORD (
FLEETWOOD had the referee to thank for an unexpected three points as Clitheroe went down to a disappointing home defeat in last night's North Western Trains League Division One clash. Any hopes of a home win were dashed by a hat trick of second half penalties
SOME weeks ago, I threw down the gauntlet to Labour and Conservative councillors requesting a public meeting over Safeway's planning application for a supermarket in Great Harwood. Neither was prepared to be open, democratic or accountable in public.
A MAJOR 80 new jobs boost for Burnley has been announced by car seat manufacturer Viktor Achter. The Rossendale Road estate, which already employs a 500-strong workforce in the town, is looking for multi-skilled sewing machinists in a three-month recruitment
BOLTON Wanderers' Danish international midfielder Per Frandsen was today set to join Blackburn Rovers in a £1.75 million deal. The signing of the 29-year-old, for a fee which will rise to £2.25 million depending on appearances, will be a major tonic for
The views of John Blunt are not necessarily those of this newspaper IF YOU'RE one for making a note of moments in history, mark a cross on this month on the calendar. It's the one when hitherto walking-on-water New Labour embarked on getting a right kicking
THE days of teachers ticking off pupils in an old register book are gone forever at Darwen Vale High School. Now the youngsters are being 'logged' on a computer in a bid to improve attendance. The scheme at Darwen Vale is the first at any school in the
A BID by Airtours to become the biggest travel firm in the country was set to be blocked by the European Commission today. Plans by the firm to take over rivals First Choice looked certain to be vetoed. The EU's new commissioner in charge of competition
PLAYERS from Bacup Borough Football Club observed a minute's silence before their match against Daisy Hill last night in memory of 22-year-old midfielder Jason Ross. Jason, the son of former Arsenal and Everton star Trevor Ross, was killed in an accident
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has told ramblers they are on the home straight in the campaign to open up the countryside to walkers. The MP, whose Right to Roam Bill earlier this year pushed the issue to centre stage, told a rally of ramblers in Haworth that
RAILWAY commuters could be in line for better services, including the possibility of more links to Manchester Airport and the city. Blackburn with Darwen Council and Lancashire County Council have joined forces to ask the Rail Passenger Partnership for
MARTIN Burberry today told of his nightmare existence living next door to the couple who kept 19 dogs in their two-bedroom council flat. He branded Beatrice and James Bowman as "the original neighbours from hell" and described how they had shattered his
POLICE were today carrying out a safety blitz on lorries and HGV's travelling through Lancashire. Lorries were stopped on the M6 and taken to the A59 at Samlesbury for a series of roadside tests. Police carry out the random checks around twice a year
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy was taken to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, for treatment after sustaining serious head injuries in a road accident yesterday. Daniel Michael Wood, of Tippet Close, Blackburn, was in collision with a Nissan Micra
OPPOSING strikers Nathan Blake and Guy Whittingham agreed on one thing today - Blackburn Rovers' Worthington Cup tie against Portsmouth will not be a walkover. Leading 3-0 from the second round first leg at Fratton Park, Rovers have a massive cushion.
THE handiwork of Women's Institute members is on show from today . Lancashire Federation of Women's Institutes has opened a Millennium Craft Exhibition at the Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho. The display features a range of handiwork, including patchwork, quilting
RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has slammed the EU for attempting to take away cash help for school milk deliveries in the UK. The European parliament's powerful budgets committee has been discussing plans to abolish the subsidies. But Conservative MEP's
FORMER Ramsbottom professional Ian Harvey has been invited to return to Gloucestershire next season as the county's overseas player, provided he first proves his fitness. Victorian all-rounder Harvey, whose precise medium-pace bowling was a feature of
THE buyer of medals which belonged to an Accrington Pals war hero considered allowing them to be displayed in Hyndburn. Company director David Hill, from Wakefield, had been reported as saying he would allow the medals to be loaned to the borough council
HOSPITAL consultants condemned the dismissal of top Burnley gynaecologist Ian Mahady after he was made redundant. More than 20 top medics at Burnley General wrote an open letter "condemning and deploring" the way in which their colleague was allegedly
UNITED continued where they left on Saturday with another comprehensive victory over Atherton. After struggling at the start of the season, Ken Bridge's men are starting to click into gear and should have won this contest more comfortably. Russell Brierley
BACUP Borough are still in shock following the tragic death of midfielder Jason Ross. But last night's match against Daisy Hill still went ahead and Borough paid their former player the perfect tribute with a comprehensive victory. In a poigniant moment
MIGHT I add my little story to Elsie Collinge's tale (Letters, August 30) of the funny things children say? While I was planting a few cuttings in the garden, my little neighbour pushed a feather in as well. When I asked her why, she said: "Well, we'll
I AM so sorry to hear (LET, September 10) of Safeway pulling out of our town. I suppose we can blame our dilly-dallying council for that. As for the Co-op wishing to do so, it sounds stupid to me. They want to close their supermarket in the centre of
GOALKEEPER Lee Copeland was the Netherfield hero with a string of tremendous saves as Stanley crashed to a second consecutive defeat. After Saturday's FA Cup exit at the hands of Whitby Town, John Coleman's men were eager to make amends against a Netherfield
ON behalf of many Asian woman and children, we express heartfelt appreciation to Nazmun Usman, community liaison officer at Beardwood High School in Blackburn. For years, she has worked conscientiously to empower parents, especially mothers, to play an
ANOTHER school year has started, and another group of youngsters - the new intake of St Wilfrid's in Blackburn - take on the chores and the dangers of daily trips in all weathers between two dilapidated buildings more than a quarter of a mile apart. The
FIRE crews from Burnley and Nelson and the incident support unit from Accrington searched streets in the town at 7.30pm yesterday looking for a tanker which was reported to be on fire. Station Officer Steve Cope said: "We had a couple of calls that a
POLICE are looking for two men who knocked a man to the ground and kicked him in the head and body in an unprovoked attack. The man was walking home with his girlfriend at 11.30pm when a black car pulled alongside them in New Hall Street and the assault
A THIEF has escaped an immediate jail term so she can be with her mother who was seriously brain damaged in a road accident. Burnley magistrates heard how Rebecca Oxley, 24, spends every day at Burnley General Hospital and her mother's progress seems
BURNLEY are hoping to bring international football back to Turf Moor after a four-year absence. The Clarets have written to the FA requesting an England fixture and are awaiting a response. Ideally, Burnley would like to stage a repeat of the under-21
COUNCIL bosses have agreed to sell Accrington's covered market to an investment firm owned by Jack Walker. The Blackburn Rovers owner's property management firm, Bilsdale Properties Ltd, is considering investing £1.3million in a new town centre shopping
Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy A COUPLE of weeks ago I went fishing - with a difference. I was invited to join the Environment Agency Team, local countryside rangers and local anglers on a netting exercise around Pennington Flash, near Leigh. The Flash
TWO charity walkers have raised £1,300 by completing a 164-mile stretch of the South West Coast long distance footpath. Julia Merrifield and Chris Ashford, both members of the science technicians' team at Nelson and Colne College, stepped out along the
A DEPRESSED drug addict found dead at his home had recently been the victim of two axe attacks, an inquest heard. Jeffrey Thomas, 36, did not report the alleged assaults to police, but afterwards complained about his head and became bloated, according
A COUPLE who are expecting relatives from across the world to descend on them for the new millennium are hoping someone will come to their rescue. Bill and Carol Hazard, from The Spinney, Beardwood, Blackburn, are expecting visitors from as far afield
ETHE fight against cancer received a huge tonic today with news that the area is set for a £2million lottery boost to help treat hundreds of East Lancashire patients. The Lancashire and Lakeland Radiotherapy Unit at Royal Preston Hospital has been invited
