Archive

  • Action is needed now on killer road

    AS yet another accident causes mayhem on East Lancashire's notorious Grane Road and triggers new complaints by worried residents, can more be done to make this, the county's most dangerous highway, any safer? For now it is claimed that the deadly moorland

  • Rover's reward for effort

    YOUNGSTERS who gave up their spare time to boost their learning have received a pat on the back from one of their football heroes. Pupils from Witton Park High School, Blackburn, spent the beginning of the summer holidays brushing up on their maths and

  • Salesman arrested after warning

    INSURANCE salesman Arfan Azad refused to stop shouting, despite being warned by police. Blackburn magistrates heard that he was eventually arrested by officers dealing with two groups of young men facing each other across Feilden Street, in Blackburn.

  • Painting put off by birds

    NOW that summer's here, the outside decorating beckons, but we are leaving the upstairs window until the autumn. The reason? We have some nesting swifts under the eaves and I hope people will overlook the droppings, but the joy of life is going on over

  • Tree planting point missed

    REGARDING my earlier comment (Letters, July 19) that I could not understand the Burnley and District Civic Trust objecting to the large-scale planting of trees at the proposed Crow Wood Farm leisure complex in Burnley because "a valuable wild life site

  • Park problem does exist

    REGARDING your article 'Swings ruined in wrecking spree' (LET, August 1), has the spokesman for Blackburn and Darwen Council only just come to live in the area? He said there is not a particular problem with vandalism at Whitehall Park in Darwen. How

  • Soarign success from Saudi link?

    A MAJOR deal which could help safeguard thousands of East Lancashire aerospace jobs is believed to be in the pipeline. Speculation is mounting that BAE Systems is planning to set up a joint venture company to strengthen its relationship with the Saudi

  • Matt: I was right to snub Fergie

    STRIKER Matt Jansen has revealed he does not regret opting for Rovers instead of Manchester United. The England Under 21 international turned down the chance of a move to United twice before he came to Rovers. But now he's concentraing on leading Rovers

  • KO Kelly will be fit

    ALAN Kelly should be fit for the start of the season despite being stretchered off during Rovers' 2-0 friendly victory over St Patrick's Athletic in Ireland on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland international collapsed in a heap following a mid-air collision

  • Matt makes it a glossy finish

    St Patrick's 0, Rovers 2 ROCK star David Gray may have stolen the show at the Witnness Music Festival in Dublin on Saturday night. But across town at Richmond Park it was Matt Jansen who struck all the right notes to ensure Rovers' wrapped up their pre-season

  • Edwardian event a big hit

    LORD Shuttleworth returned to his family home at Gawthorpe Hall to open the Parish of West Burnley's Edwardian garden party and craft fair. The welcome signalled the start of a sun-filled day which brought more than 3,000 visitors to the fund-raising

  • Dark Destroyer's our real knockout!

    GIRL band Bliss are packing a punch after meeting up with former boxing champ Nigel Benn. Abigail Jackson, 17, Marie Atkinson, 17, and Laura Heyworth, 16, of Padiham, met the Dark Destroyer when they performed at Burnley's Mean Cats club, where the ex-boxer

  • 'Work or risk jail' warning

    A COURT heard how a defendant on community service refused to work in a charity shop but had since changed his mind -- and a judge gave him until the end of September to prove it. Burnley Crown Court heard how Brendan Allen, 18, who has 60 hours of work

  • Mum's tears for Ruksana

    THE mother of missing teenager Ruksana Khatun cannot stop crying about her daughter's disappearance, a detective involved in the case revealed today. Detective Inspector Bob Eastwood, of Accrington CID, said it was becoming increasingly hard to go to

  • Problems solved at push of button

    YOUNGSTERS are logging on to the solutions for their teenage problems -- thanks to a new internet centre. Lancashire County Council has decided to extend its WhatNow? scheme, which already allows youngsters in the county to visit drop-in centres or contact

  • Staff are qualified to care

    STAFF from independent care homes and agencies in Blackburn and Darwen have completed a training programme to help them improved the quality of care for local residents. More than 170 staff from 44 independent care homes and agencies received their certificates

  • Micks and match!

    TWO men have joined forces in the battle against leukaemia after an amazing coincidence brought them together -- and they discovered they had the same name and the same job! Mick Baines, 41, of Bolton Road, Abbey Village, is awaiting a life-saving bone

  • Birthday bash ended in police cells

    DAMION Taylor ended his birthday celebrations in police cells after intervening on a friend's behalf. Blackburn magistrates heard that he refused to stop swearing when asked by police and was eventually arrested. Taylor, 23, of Copperfield Street, Blackburn

  • Club rewards the work of a former head boy

    A FORMER deputy head boy of a Roman Catholic high school has received a special award for helping children with special needs in an after-school homework club. Andrew Graham, 16, of Blackburn, was presented with the Joan Scholes Award for service after

  • Roaring fun at Lions carnival

    THOUSANDS of fun-loving East Lancashire folk headed for the annual Blackburn Lions Gala to make it a record-breaking millennium event. More than 6,000 people travelled to the town's Witton Park for the opening day of the carnival on Saturday, with more

  • Scots invaders using 'rat-run'

    EAST Lancashire's notorious Grane Road has been dubbed a Scotland to Yorkshire rat-run by campaigning residents. Tony Hodbod of the Grane Residents' Association, spoke out after the latest accident, which closed the road on Wedsnesday morning. Earlier

  • Local cricket: Darwen upset

    DARWEN suffered one of the biggest upsets of the season as they lost their first match of the season against Leyland Daf, their first league defeat at Birch Hall for two years. Darwen's innings appeared to be progressing well, at 46-1 after 15 overs but

  • Local cricket: Darwen crash to first home loss

    DARWEN suffered one of the biggest upsets of the season as they lost their first Northern Premier league match of the season against Leyland Daf -- their first league defeat at Birch Hall for two years. Darwen's innings were progressing well, at 46-1

  • Local soccer: Stanley crash to Clarets

    Accrington Stanley 1, Burnley 3 THREE goals in the first half by an experienced Burnley Reserve side proved to be too much for a Stanley side missing several first team regulars. The Clarets took the lead on 14 minutes when Paul Smith crossed from the

  • Superbikes: The wild man of Brands

    NEIL Hodgson is more hungry for success than ever. In fact, he's absolutely starving. For, having chewed up and spat out the cream of superbike's world stars, all he could think about was what was for tea. "I found it so hard to concentrate on the last

  • Worsley Cup Final: Home win pleases Parker!

    DUNCAN Parker had absolutely no intention of getting up for work today. The Todmorden player is currently temping after travelling around Australia for eight months. He only returned to Centre Vale eight weeks ago but had his Monday morning hangover planned

  • Events in Lancashire on Monday, August 7

    Rag Rug Making, Platform Gallery, Station Road, Clitheroe, 10am-noon. Managing Your Depression, The Women's Centre, 25 Wellington Street (St John's), Blackburn, 1pm-3pm. Alfie's Party, Accrington Library, 2pm-3pm. BARSA Driving Course, Blackburn Northern

  • Superbikes: Foggy backs Hodgson to take title

    CARL Fogarty believes former team-mate Neil Hodgson can follow in his footsteps and claim the World Superbike title next season. The 26-year-old Burnley rider underlined his potential with his second wild card win on home soil, in front of more than 100,000

  • Ten years ago: Stranded by war

    IRAQ gave permission for all foreigners stranded in Kuwait or Iraq to leave the country by land through Jordan. Hundreds of westerners, including some from East Lancashire, were caught up in the Gulf War. It was feared president Saddam Hussein would use

  • Mum wins right to appeal No2

    A MOTHER who insists her son will not go to the secondary school chosen for him by Lancashire County Council has won the right to appeal against the decision for a second time. Joanne Swinby, of Albert Street, Rishton, contacted the Local Government Ombudsman

  • Ambulance in collision

    AN AMBULANCE taking a patient to hospital collided with a taxi in Bacup Road, Rawtenstall early on Saturday morning. A passenger in the taxi, Daniel Hartley, 23, of Rosedale Street, Rawtenstall, was taken to Bury General Hospital with a minor back injury

  • Car hi-jack at gunpoint terror

    CAR hi-jackers pushed a gun in the face of a Rossendale driver and ordered him and his terrified girlfriend out of the car. The early morning incident took place when the car, a Vauxhall Astra, stopped at temporary traffic lights in Bacup Road, Rawtenstall

  • Park's project sounds a little potty!

    VISITORS to Blackburn's Witton Country Park during the next couple of weeks can go really potty! The park's visitor centre is hosting a two-week residential arts project, giving people the opportunity to create ceramic work in a series of clay workshops

  • BAE best for blood donation

    WHEN it comes to giving blood, Lancashire BAE Systems comes out number one company in the nation. New figures released by the National Blood Service show BAE Systems nation wide donated in 1999 a very healthy 6123 units, heading a poll of Britain's top

  • Glorious day for a centenarian!

    ELIZABETH Edmondson isn't 100 until Wednesday -- but she's already been treated like royalty and presented with a cake, thanks to the Queen Mother. Mrs Edmondson, who lives at Cedar Lodge, Haslingden, was taken along to the Asda store at Rawtenstall to

  • Moyes taught a Bilbao lesson

    Preston 1, Athletico Bilbao 3 PRESTON manager David Moyes enjoyed his European experience but revealed it's back to the drawing board for the final week before their big kick off at Grimsby,. The boss still feels he has some things to sort out after their

  • Hawk-eyed cop traps sweet-toothed thief

    SHOPLIFTER Patrick Smith walked straight out of the Food Weighhouse and into the arms of a waiting police officer. Blackburn magistrates heard that sharp-eyed constable Michael Dixon had seen Smith go into the shop and had watched through the window as

  • Open day for stammerers

    I AM planning to organise an open day in this area in the near future for people who suffer with a stammer. I am an ex-stammerer who overcame the problem by re-teaching myself to speak. But before booking a venue, I need to assess the level of interest

  • Council didn't supply fridges

    REGARDING the complaint of M Courtney (Letters, July 31), I would like to make it clear that Blackburn with Darwen Council did not supply fridges under the 'Fridgesaver' scheme. This was a national initiative aimed at replacing faulty fridges for people

  • Trust your surgeon

    TRUST ME, I'm a surgeon! Professionals like William Thomson, of Glasgow, and our own breast cancer surgeons in Lancashire should have our faith and trust and be above reproach. Mr Thomson, however, discredited himself once and for all when he removed

  • No consent to 'medication'

    THE substance used to fluoridate drinking water is hexafluorosilicic acid, the toxic waste liquor scrubbed from the chimneys of the phosphate fertiliser industry. It contains about 19 per cent fluorine and other contaminants such as lead, arsenic, other

  • Battling Shirley sees dream come true

    A CAMPAIGNING Leigh mum is delighted that her dream to help dyslexic children has come true. Last year businesswoman Shirley Longley launched a lone campaign to make Leigh a centre of excellence for children with the specific learning difficulty. Following

  • Trucks trashed in vandal attack

    THOUSANDS of litres of diesel fuel were spilled, offices wrecked and lorries damaged in a vandalism attack at the Tilcon Ltd concrete plant in Burnley. Many thousands of pounds worth of damage was done and the Environment Agency was called in to check

  • Champions in the making

    TYLDESLEY Judo Club is celebrating a host of successes at junior and senior levels. Eleven-year-old Thomas Delve has become the British Sambo Champion at 30-35kgs. Sambo is Russian wrestling. Jacob Kinney (11) of Firs Lane, Leigh and Simon Rookyard of

  • Souey stunned by £4m striker demand

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today admitted defeat in his attempts to land Middlesbrough striker Brian Deane. Ewood chief Souness has been chasing the 6ft 3in hit-man all summer in a bid to beef-up his strike-force ahead of the new season. But Rovers

  • Trucks trashed in vandal attack

    THOUSANDS of litres of diesel fuel were spilled, offices wrecked and lorries damaged in a vandalism attack at the Tilcon Ltd concrete plant in Burnley. Many thousands of pounds worth of damage was done and the Environment Agency was called in to check

  • Quiet night for county fire chief

    LANCASHIRE'S Chief Fire Officer Peter Holland went back to floor to join firefighters for a 15-hour shift with Green Watch at Burnley during the night. Then after a shower and breakfast it was back into a suit and off to county fire headquarters for a

  • Fabulous fun day fills gala void

    BRIERFIELD'S first town Fun Day became an immediate multicultural hit. The event, put together when Brierfield Gala collapsed, drew strong support from all sections of the local community -- providing an array of attractions with something for everyone

  • Chain-smoker grew cannabis

    A MAN who chain-smoked cannabis for 30 years set up his own growing system in a bedroom -- and told police it was an experiment. Burnley Crown Court heard how Lawrence Wardman, 48, had used the drug since his days as a student and thought it would be

  • Mill girl, movie star

    Eric Leaver on the actress who made a passable job running four looms THE lovely Alma Taylor was one of Britain's first film stars and such a big box-office draw that pioneer producer Cecil Hepworth paid her a staggering £60 a week -- six times more than

  • Big Sam misses Bolton victory

    BOLTON boss Sam Allardyce went on a scouting mission to Holland -- missing his side's 2-1 win at Bury on Saturday. Summer signing Michael Ricketts impressed for Bolton. He earned a penalty that Per Frandsen tucked away before scoring the second himself

  • Local cricket: Hunter looks to the heavens after cup victory

    TODMORDEN fulfilled a prediction made some months ago when they celebrated a 125-run victory in the Worsley Cup final over Haslingden at Centre Vale yesterday. The last time Todmorden had lifted the trophy, back in 1982, their ground had been flooded.

  • Crowds Cotton on to TV's Dot!

    CROWDS cottoned on to Dot Cotton when the EastEnders star opened Barnoldswick and Earby Round Table's Millennium Gala. They gave the TV soap actress June Brown the biggest cheer of the day as she arrived for the area's major social event of the year.

  • Five years ago: Cricket cup punch-up

    A CRICKET cup final was marred by violence when fighting broke out during the Jennings Worsley Cup match between Nelson and Haslingden. Players who were in the middle of a presentation ceremony on the balcony looked down on the mayhem while others tried

  • Beauty spots bid for award

    SOME of East Lancashire's best-kept secrets have beaten off hundreds of entrants to reach the final of a county-wide competition. Four villages in the area have been shortlisted in the Lancashire's Best Kept Village Competition 2000, to be judged this

  • Squad come through unscathed

    THE Clarets came through their weekend warm-up games unscathed which leaves Andy Payton as manager Stan Ternent's only injury worry ahead of the big kick-off at Bolton Saturday. Payton's fractured toe makes him highly doubtful for the Reebok Stadium clash

  • Duckworth set to join Clarets board

    BURNLEY could be ready to strengthen their board with the appointment of wealthy local businessman Chris Duckworth. Clarets chairman Barry Kilby confirmed that he had held talks with the long-standing Burnley fan about the possibility of becoming a director

  • Webless small firms falling behind

    SMALL businesses are failing to respond to the e-commerce revolution, a new survey has revealed. More than 55 per cent admitted to not having a website, and fewer than a third of these webless firms plan to have one within the next year. Malcolm Arber

  • Applause for council's first Asian member

    ROSSENDALE'S first Asian councillor Abu Asad Choudhury, was congratulated on his election success by Conservative Party chairman Michael Ancram at a special cultural reception in London. Party leader William Hague and shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe

  • Park's project sounds a little potty!

    VISITORS to Blackburn's Witton Country Park during the next couple of weeks can go really potty! The park's visitor centre is hosting a two-week residential arts project, giving people the opportunity to create ceramic work in a series of clay workshops

  • Soarign success from Saudi link?

    A MAJOR deal which could help safeguard thousands of East Lancashire aerospace jobs is believed to be in the pipeline. Speculation is mounting that BAE Systems is planning to set up a joint venture company to strengthen its relationship with the Saudi

  • I'll sell my home to keep Joe

    MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition backing a devoted pet owner's fight to keep the monkey that has roamed free in her home for 13 years. Grandmother Mary Stanton, 73, of Harrison Street, Blackburn, has now vowed to sell her home and possessions

  • Local cricket: Tree fall as Rib race on

    RIBBLESDALE Wanderers stretched their lead to 13 points at the top of the Jennings Ribblesdale League after a superb weekend. Wanderers won both their matches while rivals Cherry Tree slumped to two defeats. On Saturday Wanderers captured a comfortable

  • Local cricket: Ramsbottom stay top

    TITLE-CHASING Ramsbottom stayed top of the Transco Lancashire League thanks in no small part to Tommy Read's first ever senior wickets. The seamer, whose only previous bowl for the first team had come in a Worsley Cup defeat earlier this season, took

  • More misery for Bury commuters

    BELEAGUERED bus passengers in Bury face more disruption with a series of further strikes planned for the coming weeks. First Manchester bus drivers, members of the Transport and General Workers' Union, are organising further days of industrial action.