COUNCIL chiefs today apologised for traffic chaos on the A666 between Blackburn and Darwen - before defending their decision to carry out roadworks. Commuter traffic between the towns has been gridlocked during rush hour because two popular routes leading
EAST Lancashire-based organisations are winners in a "green honours list". Lancashire County Council, a scout group from Rossendale and a bed and breakfast business in Waddington are among the winners of honours in the Queen Mother's Birthday Awards,
IS it any wonder that fewer than one in five shoppers trusts the government to tell the truth about the safety of food, as a survey showed this week? For in the past few days alone - characteristic of the food scandals to which we are regularly exposed
AN EX-CONVICT who refused to believe his girlfriend had left him insisted he loved her then shouted abuse and accused her of seeing other men. Burnley magistrates heard how Michael Rennie Shepherd, 35, turned up at Helen Peel's house and slept in her
NEW business is failing to boom in Burnley the way economic development bosses hoped it would - despite big cash incentives on offer. Burnley's Challenge Fund aimed to link with entrepreneurs to create 1,400 new firms in the town in the seven-year life
A CHURCH has been held up as an example to the rest of the country as to how government grants should be used to make such buildings the centre of the community. Burnley MP Peter Pike, a regular worshipper, wants St Peter's Church to be a blueprint for
A BALTI night literally went down like hot curries as 60 diners enjoyed a meal out to raise funds for Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle. The Balti Palace restaurant, Manchester Road, Nelson, donated the meals and use of the restaurant to boost hospice
ALBERT Morris (Letters, November 10) makes, what I consider to be, very ageist comments about young motorists. As a driver in the 18-27 age category he refers to, I was deeply disturbed by his suggestion that all one must now do to pass a driving test
I STRONGLY disagree with your Opinion 'Who is it needs the retraining?" (LET, November 10). I think that the Labour group at Blackburn with Darwen are dead right to pull the plug on Councillor Mike Madigan and on anyone else in this unitary authority
THERE was excellent entertainment at Gigg Lane where Bury turned in a super performance following recent criticism, and will consider themselves very unfortunate not to have bagged all three points. Table-topping Wigan looked much the slicker for much
REGARDING your article 'Disabled ramp being used as dogs toilet' (LET, November 15), I do hope that Blackburn with Darwen Council take some action with regard to the irresponsibility of some dog owners who are allowing their dogs to foul the area around
BOLTON failed in their quest for five successive First Division wins but still managed to maintain their promotion challenge with another sound all-round performance. Manager Sam Allardyce had said in advance that the game plan was to thwart and frustrate
ONCE again the ravages that winter is set to unleash on our health service in East Lancashire loom large - this time demonstrated in the plan by health bosses to "buy" beds in private nursing homes to head off a shortage of them in hospitals. There can
TWELVE games undefeated and currently occupying one of the Second Division's automatic promotion places - is it any wonder that David Moyes is a happy man? Preston put aside the disappointment of failing to overcome non-league part-timers Enfield last
NEWLY-released film "The Winslow Boy" is more than just a scriptwriter's fantasy - it is based on a real family's fight for justice and recorded in the archives of Stonyhurst College. Nigel Hawthorne stars in the film, based on Terence Rattigan's play
PEOPLE living in the country and dependent on their cars could be driven round the bend by proposed Government charges on motorists, an MP has warned. Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has slammed Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott for government plans to
YOUNGSTERS at St James's CE Primary School, Clitheroe, have teamed up with a computer giant to raise charity cash. They have joined forces with Microsoft to help raise £2million for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The money
A HERITAGE centre that houses a rare artefact has has received thousands of visitors less than six months after being opened. The Slaidburn Heritage Centre houses displays and an audio-visual presentation relating to the history of scenic Hodder Valley
CRAIG Short took the jibes from his team-mates squarely on the chin last night after missing the type of sitter that grannies reputedly stick away in their sleep. Scottish international Christian Dailly couldn't resist having a pop at his defensive partner
COUNCIL chiefs today apologised for traffic chaos on the A666 between Blackburn and Darwen - before defending their decision to carry out roadworks. Commuter traffic between the towns has been gridlocked during rush hour because two popular routes leading
NEW dad Andy Payton will be hoping to make it a double celebration by firing Burnley to victory at Reading tonight. Payton wasn't able to travel with the Clarets squad yesterday as his wife went into labour. But with a baby girl arriving safely, Payton
BLACKBURN Rovers number one target Dave Bassett has ruled himself out of the race to fill the vacant manager's job at Ewood. And that means the club will now have to turn their attentions elsewhere with caretaker boss Tony Parkes remaining an option to
YOUNG homeless people who have been rehoused are set to benefit from a new tumble drier - thanks to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and British Gas Millennium Awards. Blackburn's homeless shelter Nightsafe provides accommodation for young people in 17
AN ANTI-religious poster comparing faith to madness, which was glued to a Blackburn church door, has been taken down. The fluorescent orange poster advising believers to see their doctor was stuck on a door at St Anne's Church, Feilden Street, yesterday
A DRUNKEN man couldn't remember attacking two police officers called to his home, a court heard. Burnley magistrates heard how Ian David Marsden, 32, threatened an officer with a plant pot, hit him and then kicked out at a second officer. Marsden, of
A SPECIAL order for blood has been made by Padiham's Gawthorpe High School as students and staff take to the stage to perform a musical comedy Dracula Spectacular. A 100 pupils aged 11 to 16 are involved in the cast, chorus, choir and orchestra and the
VODKA martinis, shaken not stirred, were served to 300 guests at a casino evening - before they watched a special preview of the latest Bond film. Blackburn-based jeweller Peter Jackson hosted the event at Blackburn Shopping Centre last night before the
BLACKBURN town centre traders met police to discuss the problem of town centre crime in the run-up to Christmas. A seminar open to all town centre traders and backed by the Chamber of Trade was held at Blackburn library. Speakers included Superintendent
A visa surgery for travel to India takes place at Bangor Street Community Centre, Norwich Street, Blackburn, on Saturday from 9am-1pm and from 2-5pm. The event, organised by the Indian Workers' Association of Blackburn, will be hosted by the High Commission
A DISTRAUGHT couple who were the victims of a conman who spent three years buying goods in their name today revealed that their nightmare had returned. Police have launched an investigation after Steve and Pauline Jackson, of Whitehall Road, Revidge,
HEALTH bosses are set to "buy" beds in private nursing homes to head off a winter accommodation crisis in hospitals. East Lancashire Health Authority has linked with Burnley Health Trust to tender for nursing home places for patients who are medically
IT IS, of course, a relief for all of us in Lancashire that when we wake up in a cold sweat worrying what to do about the horrors that might befall us over the forthcoming Millennium weekend, we need not chew the coverlet to pieces. We only need to root
EAST Lancashire's greenies have less than a month to enter this year's Grimewatch competition. The contest, run by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in conjunction with the Tidy Britain Group, Groundwork, British Aerospace and the Environment Agency, rewards
WITH his luck William Hague should never play cards. For having clawed his way up from the position of being a no-account, lightweight leader of the Opposition, he was just making a dent in Labour's long-standing lead in the opinion polls when Cherie
THREE new IT training centres will be established in Pendle boosting job hopes for the over-16s in the borough's most deprived areas. Based in Brierfield, Colne and Nelson, the information technology centres will be run by Nelson and Colne College and
PLANS to build a new town centre retail complex to replace Accrington's outdoor market should be scrapped - according to traders who claim they have had no say in the scheme. Traders at Accrington's 1960s covered market say plans to build one large retail
PEOPLE living near a proposed home for disabled people near Accrington have been accused of "scaremongering" in their bid to stop the plan going ahead. More than 60 letters of objection have been received by Hyndburn Council over a plan to convert a house
A SUPPORT service for drug addicts and alcoholics has seen a huge leap in the number of people seeking help over the last 12 months. The Alcohol and Drugs Service provides help and advice for addicts across the North West and runs a service in Burnley
FURTHER to your reports about Councillor Mike Madigan's deselection (LET, November 10 and 12), what is it that makes Blackburn Labour councillors run round like headless chickens? Here you have one of their most experienced councillors, with 25 years
BAMBER BRIDGE 1 TWO goals from striker Gary Williams helped Stanley progress to the quarter finals of the Unibond League Challenge Cup with a fourth straight win against Premier Division opposition. It proved to be sweet revenge for the Reds, having lost
THE festive season will soon be here, bringing with it endless celebrations. But this year, while you're enjoying yourself, why not extend a little Yuletide cheer to people who really need your support. Join Mencap's Magnificent Mince Pie Party and with
IT is welcome news at last that Tony Blair has given the go-ahead for a Bill to ban fur farms in Britain. Mink farmers breed up to 5,000 a year. Considering there are 13 farms in Britain, this is a cruel exploitation of wild animals for an inessential
MOTORISTS approaching Blackburn town centre along Salford from the direction of Accrington or Cicely Lane find that there are three lamp standards alongside Morrison's supermarket which obliterate their view of the traffic lights on that side of the road
IT should be compulsory for anyone who drives a taxi to have passed an advanced driving test. It would also earn the taxi drivers more respect and, most of all, passengers will feel at ease and content in getting to their destination. D McNAMARA (Mr),
AN EMERGENCY Commons debate was called to discuss the future of Accrington Victoria Hospital. Hyndburn Tory MP Ken Hargreaves arranged the adjournment debate to press for more resources for the crisis-hit hospital. The move followed a huge protest campaign
BURNLEY Council bit the bullet and decided to close down the construction and works group with the loss of 54 jobs, 13 more than first feared. Nine white collar staff and 45 manual and craft employees would lose their jobs in the close down. The decision
Blackburn Artists' Society meet St Gabriel's Church Hall, Brownhill Drive, Blackburn, 7pm. Portraiture Evening. "Aladdin," Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, 7.15pm. "Bjorn Again," Guild Hall, Preston, 7.30pm. Music Recital, Clitheroe Library, Church Street
TAX disc dodgers were today warned they faced having their cars scrapped if they fail to pay up after police launched a major crackdown. Officers are working closely with the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency to target persistent offenders. Operation Excise
READING'S assistant manager John Gorman is appealing to the Royals' long-suffering fans to stick with their team and urge them on to a much-needed win against Burnley tonight. For the second year running, Reading have started badly and their early season
BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Jason McAteer nearly silenced the Gresty Road boo-boys by serving up a late winner for Craig Short last night. But although Rovers ended up having to settle for a draw, McAteer wasn't too unhappy with a point, despite Alex's
SCOT Derek Norrie had an even closer shave than England after his national team lost narrowly to the "Auld Enemy". Derek, chef at the Mason's Arms pub, Burnley Road, Waterfoot, had his head shaved after losing a bet with landlord Tom Naughton that Scotland
A LORRY crashed through a stone wall on the Grane Road today only yards from the spot where two Blackburn College students died. The driver of an Excel Logistics lorry lost control on a sharp left-hand bend between the Grey Mare pub and the Belthorn turn-off
PANTO star George Critchley is seeing double, thanks to the artistic efforts of a Pendle teenager. Now eagle-eyed locals are being given the chance to spot life-size cardboard cut-outs of the 'cheeky chappy' in and around Burnley and Pendle, to win the
