MIKE Atherton is ready to play a big part in Lancashire's Championship bid. The former England captain's county appearances have been limited in recent years by injury and Test commitments. And before the current match against Somerset in Taunton, he
A LANDLADY involved in a bitter row with the brewery today said that the episode has affected her health. Marilyn Hutchinson, of the Gibraltar Hotel, Blackburn, has been hospitalised for two weeks after suffering a severe asthma attack which she claims
A FORMER security guard is set to receive a transatlantic gift of life -- after a one in a million chance linked him with a bone marrow donor in America. Michael Baines was told the news -- which gave him hope of beating leukaemia -- just days after taking
WORKS to give a £2.3million facelift to a block of high-rise flats in Blackburn are set to begin this month. A refurbishment programme for Bowland House, Larkhill, is part of a wider scheme which will see the neighbouring Ribble House and Pendle House
A GARAGE owner says he has to scrap around 30 or 40 cars every three months because people are refusing to pay recovery charges. Paul Cross, who runs Cross Recovery Service in Greenbank Road, Blackburn, regularly recovers stolen and impounded vehicles
A COLOURFUL leaflet encouraging people to explore Belthorn village and the surrounding area has been launched by Lancashire County Council's Countryside Service. The Belthorn Heritage Trail leaflet has been written by local people, through the Belthorn
MEMBERS of Blackburn with Darwen's Festivals Committee are gearing up for a three-week extravaganza organised to mark the South Asian quota of the borough's year long millennium celebrations. The voluntary community group, which has been raising money
A CONVICTED terrorist, who used his job at the University of Central Lancashire as a cover to plot a series of IRA explosions across Britain, has been released after serving just six years of his jail sentence. Feilim O'Hadhmaill, 42, moved from a prestigious
WHEN it comes to raising money for charity, Fylde Mayor Paul Hayhurst has only got one thing to say -- on yer bike! September 11 sees willing cyclists join the mayor in a 40-mile ride around St Annes to raise money for neurone disease charities. These
THERE were sombre undertones to the mood of the protestors outside St John's Church yesterday (July 12). It was as if they knew what lay ahead of them as around 200 people slowly marched the full 500 yards, many aided by walking sticks and some in wheelchairs
BUS bosses in Blackpool have apologised to the public about potential transport chaos which could come throughout the summer season after wage negotiations with drivers collapsed. At a heated one-and-a-half meeting this week the Transport and General
POLICE are hunting a man who held up a McDonald's restaurant in Blackpool in the early hours of yesterday morning (July 12). The man, who was armed with a knife, made off with a sum of money from the till after threatening staff at the branch off Central
CHILDREN'S food writer Annabel Karmel knows only too well the trials and tribulations of getting children to eat a healthy and varied diet. The battle of wills at mealtimes prompted Annabel to develop a variety of tempting meals for babies and toddlers
THE outlook for new jobs in the region is bright, with almost a third of employers planning to recruit more staff, according to a report today. Employment is expected to rise in every region of the UK, predicted recruitment specialists Manpower. Research
MORECAMBE FC's Auxiliary Supporters club is set for a new lease after a long dispute with the football club came to an end. The supporters club, located on a site adjacent to the ground, withdrew its support after players were instructed by the then manager
THE BOYS were back in town yesterday as the Clarets returned to pre-season training ahead of their first tilt at Division One football for six years. Fit-again assistant boss Sam Ellis put the first-team squad, missing only Ian Wright and Mark Robertson
ANYONE who still hasn't caught the smash hit movie Chicken Run has until late tomorrow to catch a taste of it on the internet. Countdown.com is the self-styled ultimate movie fan site, has seven whole minutes of the Aardman claymation masterpiece by way
THE man behind the most famous football club mascot in the country didn't flap when he needed something for the wall of his new pub -- he had something that fitted the bill! Simon Nash, the man inside Preston North End's Deepdale Duck, left the club to
THE best of British food -- from ostrich meat to sheep's milk -- will be on sale at the first Longridge Good Food and Drink Festival. The new event at Longridge Civic Hall, which organisers hope to make an annual fixture, will include exhibits from farmers
A DIRECTOR of a company which supplied machinery in which a young labourer was killed is to face charges under health and safety law. Brian Foster, of Waste Equipment Services Ltd in Bamber Bridge, which supplied EW Cartons, Rishton, with the baling machine
REPORTS of a house price boom were "misleading" in East Lancashire, an estate agent warned. Roy Cook, principal of Roy Cook and Company in Blackburn, hit out at analyses of the national housing market, which he said failed to take local fluctuations into
A TEACHER threw himself to his death off the top of a town centre car park, an inquest was told. Keith Ingham was transformed into a frightened wreck by a drug-user and her boyfriend, who moved into his home and bled his bank account. Mr Ingham, 52, became
FURIOUS residents have criticised the company which built their homes after car clampers moved in late on Saturday night. Residents at Bay View Court, Station Road, brought in the clamping company after a lengthy dispute over car park spaces outside the
LANCASHIRE police have launched a major inquiry into sexual abuse allegations at children's homes across the county. And Operation Nevada is already making rapid progress, with over 60 calls received in its first day in operation. It is one of many inquiries
AN aspiring young Lancaster actress has won a place at a prestigious summer youth theatre production in Manchester. Rachael Xerri, 16, beat off competition from 600 hopefuls for a place in a Manchester Youth Theatre production at the Royal Exchange Theatre
PAKISTANI test cricketers are helping to run coaching sessions for youngsters of all backgrounds. Burnley and Pendle Asian Cricket Forum have organised the coaching sessions the first of which started at Park High School in Colne yesterday and continues
RESIDENTS living close to two popular Leyland pubs say their lives are being made a misery by drunken yobs. They complain that the Roebuck and the Fox and Lion, next to Leyland Cross in Fox Lane, are the focus of fighting, drunkenness and vandalism after
BOOKWORMS went potty in Preston at the weekend as the new craze to sweep the nation hit town centre bookstores. Saturday morning (July 8) marked the start of Harry Potter-mania as youngsters huddled outside Waterstones book shop, in Fishergate, for a
MANAGEMENT at Stagecoach Ribble have called on the union to call off their strike as another day of dispute looms on the horizon. Commuters across Preston face yet another day of disruption as drivers plan yet another strike day next Wednesday. And as
JUNKIES who ditch dirty needles in a popular children's park are to be stopped in their tracks by angry parents. Land between Selborne Street and George Street has become a notorious place for drug users -- prompting locals to take urgent action to protect
RESIDENTS in the Middleforth area of Penwortham in Preston were the first ones to benefit from a new police initiative aimed at cracking down on thieves in the area. As part of a new property marking scheme, all households on Penwortham Hall Gardens off
NIGEL Evans MP has blasted Tony Blair as "incapable of answering the simplest of questions about his own government's policies". Responding to the Ribble Valley MP's question concerning the amount and whereabouts of money raised through the increase of
THE deputy leader of Lancashire County Council Frank McKenna has been elected as the first leader of the North West Regional Assembly -- the body seen as the forerunner to a North West Parliament. Speaking after his election, county councillor McKenna
Andy Neild on tour with Blackburn rovers BLACKBURN Rovers face a journey into the unknown tomorrow when they kick-off their mini pre-season tour in Germany. Graeme Souness's men have been shacked up at their training base near Strasbourg all week as they
NEW boy Craig Hignett will have to put his Blackburn Rovers debut on hold after being ruled out of tomorrow night's friendly against Bahlinger in Germany. The 30-year-old midfielder, who joined Rovers earlier this week in a £2.25 million deal from Barnsley
HIGHER Folds FC, Division One champions in the Leigh League, have been handed a plum home tie in the Champions Cup. Each season the winners of the top title in the league are invited as ambassadors into this major North West knockout competition and the
A FORMER security guard is set to receive a transatlantic gift of life -- after a one in a million chance linked him with a bone marrow donor in America. Michael Baines was told the news -- which gave him hope of beating leukaemia -- just days after taking
A TEACHER threw himself to his death off the top of a town centre car park, an inquest was told. Keith Ingham was transformed into a frightened wreck by a drug-user and her boyfriend, who moved into his home and bled his bank account. Mr Ingham, 52, became
THE first stage of a controversial scheme to restructure special needs schools has now gone ahead with the shutting of Blackamoor School, Blackburn. The school will merge with Dame Evelyn Fox School to become Newfield School, but some parents and staff
Danwize 2000, King George's Hall, Blackburn, 7.30pm. Janet Anderson MP surgery, Sudellside Community Centre, Darwen, 5.30pm-6.30pm. End-of-term disco, age nine and under 5.45pm-8pm, age 10 to 13 8.15pm-10.30pm, West End Youth Club, Clayton Street, Blackburn
THE eight Blackpool residential care homes face almost certain closure after a council vote yesterday (June 12) despite more street demonstrations and an 11,000 signature petition being handed to the Mayor The full council voted 22-19 against taking the
CLITHEROE'S Paul Dwyer faces an anxious few days as he waits to see whether he will be playing for a place in next week's Open Championship. Dwyer missed out on an automatic berth in final qualifying by a whisker as he lost a play-off at Ormskirk on Monday
CHORLEY manager Ken Wright is hoping to lure Leigh RMI's Mike Wallace to Victory Park this summer as he prepares to launch his promotion battleplan. The classy midfielder, who was voted RMI's player of the year last season as they romped to the UniBond
NICK Dougherty led England to top spot in the qualifying stage of the European Boys Team Championship in Holland where they were taking on Switzerland in the opening matchplay round today. The 18-year-old from Shaw Hill followed his level par 71 on the
LOVING husband Donald Duxbury told an inquest how his wife collapsed and died in front of him. The retired road sweeper said that in 42 years of marriage he had only been separated from his beloved Alice on three occasions -- when he went into hospital
THE North West has the worst record for deaths from solvent abuse in the country. New figures reveal that between 1971 and 1998 a record 236 youngsters died after sniffing aerosols, glue and lighter fuel -- the highest figures for any English region and
AROUND 300 tyres have been dumped at a moorland beauty spot. Landowners North West Water are now facing a bill of around £400 to clean up the area at Rake Brook between Belmont and Abbey Village. It is the second time in a month there has been illegal
THE district auditor has praised Lancashire County Council for its best value performance. Local authorities became duty-bound to improve services and give best value to taxpayers in April. County council leader Coun John West said: "I am delighted to
CHEAPER, cleaner, greener! That's what one Blackpool cab firm has decided to make some of its fleet of taxis. And it has won them praise in the House of Commons for being the first firm in the region to do just that! Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden
BLACKPOOL'S beaches have been snubbed yet again by a national guide because of the poor quality of bathing water. But, say environmental experts, this could be the last year because there are already signs of an improvement in quality. This year the resort's
BLACKPOOL Pleasure Beach has produced yet another " first" as it unveiled its new solar-powered attraction this week. The ten-feet-tall, three-tonne sundial is unique and the most advanced of its kind in the world because no one has ever made a vertical
GET ready to see the skies come alive when the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic aces take part in the Blackpool with Altitude skyshows. Fans of flight will be able to see a range of spectacular displays throughout the afternoon of Sunday, July 23. The programme
BLACKPOOL South MP Gordon Marsden has criticised private medical examiners who fail to give enough attention or time when assessing claimants for disability living allowance. Speaking in a debate in the Commons, Mr Marsden talked about the performance
YOUNGSTERS are being targeted by the government in a £2million scheme to promote fruit and vegetables. The move comes after a survey found few children eat as many fruit and vegetables as experts recommend to protect them against future heart disease
A TEENAGER who forced a door of his near neighbour's house and helped himself to property, has kept his freedom. Jason Maxwell, 18, described by his counsel as a 'rudderless ship,' had no previous convictions and a judge told Burnley Crown Court probation
A FORMER lorry driver is hoping to be sitting pretty after a career move. Bernard Daniels recently completed a BA (Hons) degree in Furniture at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, and hopes to make a career out of his talent. The father-of-one
A multi-millionaire businessman has become one of the first people to sign up to a new learning scheme. Tony Cann of the TDS group of companies in Blackburn has joined the Learndirect initiative, which is currently offering free information and communications
A BUSINESSMAN has been appointed chairman of Lancashire's new training body. Alan Dick will head up the new Learning & Skills Council for Lancashire -- the organisation which will replace Training and Enterprise Councils. Mr Dick runs Morecambe-based
NORTH End player Julian Darby has made a shock exit from the club after turning down a coaching role with the team. News of the player's departure, whose contract ran out in June, was revealed on Tuesday by manager David Moyes, in an interview for the
CLARETS boss Stan Ternent described new signing Lee Briscoe as "top-class" as the former England under-21 man linked up with Burnley for the first time today. Ternent successfully completed a protracted chase for the 24-year-old when he secured him on
RYELANDS residents were jubilant this week after plans to redevelop the estate were thrown out following a tense three-hour council meeting. Punching the air in celebration, many residents hugged each other and with a sigh of relief explained: "Now we
SOME alarmists reckon that all this internet business and computers are damaging reading skills and destroying young minds by leading them away from the magical world that is books. Tosh, say I, for I know for sure that the world wide web is the greatest
CARL Fogarty, Blackburn's favourite sporting son, may be temporarily out of action at the moment. But the latest site devoted to King Carl's career and the 2000 superbike season is very much up and running. This is Carl Fogarty is produced by the Lancashire
PARENTS across East Lancashire are being urged to condemn a Lancashire County Council report on the future of education in the area and push for a new high school. Stuart Finch, chairman of the Ribble Valley Schools for Ribble Valley Children and the
I TELL you what. I can't wait for November. Why? That's when all us am-dram fans will enjoy Burnley LOS doing Mack and Mabel at the Mechanics Institute. How do I know this, and what has it to do with the Internet? Well I had a look on a new amateur dramatic
ANYTHING you can do, we can do too -- that's the message to a group of amateur male strippers from a bunch of girls. The only thing is, the group have been so busy organising the charity Full Monty with a difference that they haven't managed to find a
A WOMAN said to have mown down a neighbour in an Accrington street was at a park in Blackburn, with her sister and some friends at the time, a jury heard. Rabenah Bostan, 28, did not return to Accrington until after she was alleged to have driven at Farzana
PATIENTS' watchdogs rejected health chiefs' plans over the closure of Park Lee Hospital, Blackburn. The 100-year-old hospital was due to close in 1997 and its services transferred to a new £7 million unit at Queen's Park Hospital. But members of the CHC
AN 88-year-old year old woman died four days after choking on a ham sandwich. Alice Jones' daughter Alison Phillips of Sackfield Street, Barnoldswick, told an inquest at Burnley how she tried to save her mother, following instructions given by an ambulance
A PRESTON man is heading for glory after making it through to the final of a prestigious bowling competition. Now crown green bowler, Brian Duncan, 56, of Badgers Way, Walton-Le-Dale, is in with a chance of winning the £2,000 jackpot in the grand final
SPECIALISED litter bins have been installed in Pendle. As well as providing a place for litter, the bins also have special compartment for cigarette ends and chewing gum. Pendle Pride has installed bins in Nelson outside Nelson Market and the in Broadway
ONE of Lancaster's Green councillors will appear on television on Sunday to argue the case for renewable energy. Emily Heath will appear on BBC 2's North Westminster to promote the message that renewable energy such as wind, wave and solar power makes
RESIDENTS on a Morecambe Street are celebrating after their road was resurfaced, ending 40 years of neglect. Woodhill Avenue finally has a new Tarmac surface after being dogged with potholes, weeds and loose kerbs. One delighted resident, Tracey Leeming
A RAMPAGING bull was gunned down by police marksmen after it wandered on to the busy M6 motorway near Lancaster. Police feared the animal was likely to endanger drivers and, in order to prevent further distress, took the decision to shoot it. The raging
THEY'RE hoping the rain stays mainly on the plain at the Duke's this weekend as this year's play in the park - the Spanish adventure story, Don Quixote - opens to the public. Artistic Director, Ian Hastings, has picked a mixture of familiar and not so
A £40-a-day heroin addict who robbed a pensioner, leaving her with a dislocated shoulder, is behind bars for three years. Burnley Crown Court heard how the 72-year-old victim fell to the ground after Paul Whitehead, 31, pounced as she waited at a bus
ALMOST £50,000 worth of vacuum cleaners were stolen from a secure compound at Heysham Port this week. The 540 orange vox rapide vacuum cleaners were in a 40ft long trailer, later found dumped and empty near Junction 22 of the M6 at Newton-le-Willows.
BURNLEY Football Club has asked Burnley town hall to spend £500 of council taxpayers' cash to sponsor a player for the coming season. The invitation from the Clarets has gone out to businesses throughout the area in a bid to boost income at the club with
MEMBERS of Briercliffe Workingmen's Club are toasting their success after being named as one of the best-run clubs in the country by a national magazine. The village club has been chosen as Club of the Month by the Club Journal, the official magazine
A MAVERICK Preston councillor is to be hauled before a sub-committee today (Thursday, July 13) on charges of leaking confidential council information to a local newspaper. Coun Mick Moulding faces the prospect of being thrown off all committees and, if
PRESTON'S hottest party, the Preston Youth 2000 festival, rocked the town last week as young people came together and joined the spirit of friendship, fun and excitement through a variety of special events. Throughout the week people enjoyed a range of
McDONALDS staff in Preston were left shaken following a terrifying ordeal at the hands of machete-wielding robbers. Two men pounced on staff near to closing time at the burger bar on Deepdale Retail Park, off Blackpool Road, late on Monday evening (July
ROVERS winger Keith Gillespie could be handed an escape route out of Ewood Park. The former Newcastle wide-man, who has struggled to make an impact with Rovers since his £2.35 million switch from St James's 18 months ago, is being tracked by a couple
LEAM Richardson today joined Bolton Wanderers in a £50,000 deal. The 20-year-old full back was offered a new one year deal after his contract ran out this summer. But he has opted to join Wanderers instead after realising his first team chances at Ewood
FAMILIES in Howe Bridge are furious after a convoy of around 50 gipsy caravans invaded land next to their homes. Residents on Leigh Road were shocked when they saw the group of travellers arrive on the site of the old bus depot on Tuesday. One mother,
I WAS one of the 30 or so people who protested in a quiet and good-humoured manner outside Gordon Prentice's constituency offices in Nelson on Friday and could hardly believe the comments made by our MP in your report (LET, July 8). "Bully-boy' tactics
I WOULD like to offer some observations on the comments made to the local press by Hyndburn Athletics Club members Ian Coffey and Norman Mitchell on the commercial sports complex proposed for Moorhead High School in Accrington. On what grounds does Mr
MARTIN Ball (Letters, July 10) of FOREST, as is usual when going on about smoking, tries to defend the indefensible. He now gives us to understand that "the rise in the number of people smoking is in deliberate defiance of sanctimonious politicians."
ARE residents of Witton and district in Blackburn aware Vodafone and their spidermen are advancing on the area, planning to erect a 15-metre high mast with antennae and ancillary ground equipment behind Nos 18 to 22 Markham Road? To site such a mast in
I AM trying to locate pupils from a boarding school for asthmatics that I attended in Seaford, East Sussex. It was called 'Pilgrims' and survived in this form from 1955 to 1997. So far, I have found 29 former staff and 152 former pupils of the 850 pupils
THE appointment of Chief Sup John Thompson as Blackburn's new police chief (LET, Jund 30) sounds like good news for once. Let's hope so -- he's echoed everything I've always said: quick hits for a fortnight don't work. Let's hope he's a new broom. We
ARE opinion polls a good thing? Every election, be it national or local, polls are carried out in the press and on TV. In seats where a candidate seems to be heading for an overwhelming majority many voters are said to be apathetic because they do not
OF THE plethora of job-creation schemes Britain has seen down the years, the one from which unemployed in East Lancashire are expected soon to benefit is surely among the most dubious -- and daft. For straight out of the stockpile of soundbite policies
