Tomorrow Rossendale Organ and Keyboard Club, Rossendale United Social Club, Staghills Road, Newchurch, 8pm-10.30pm. Music for an Easter Evening, Salvation Army Citadel, Vicar Street, Blackburn, 7pm. In aid of the East Lancs Hospice. E-Ladd ADHD Family
THEATRE-GOING in a group has proved to be a popular way of seeing shows for dozens of people in Hyndburn. Hyndburn Theatre Group has seen 19 performances including Phantom of the Opera, Carousel, Dr Doolittle, An Inspector Calls, Annie and The Nutcracker
WHERE can you see wilting shillelaghs, vanishing trousers and runaway bladders in one hilarious production? There's a touch of the Blarney at the Little Theatre in River Street, Colne, where members of Colne Dramatic Society are feverishly rehearsing
CAN readers help me to find out who the people were who helped me when I fell down the escalator in Ainsworth Street, Blackburn, on February 9? Someone put my money back in my pocket; another phoned for the ambulance while two men consoled me and another
LIKE Dawn Coker (LET, March 19) we, too, have just returned from Tenerife and were also asked at the UK check-in desk if we were carrying any meat or dairy products which, rightly so, must not be taken out of the UK in the current foot and mouth crisis
UNDERSTANDABLY, the foot and mouth outbreak has stirred strong emotions. Daily, we witness shocked, distraught farmers, anxious hoteliers, indignant ramblers and worried consumers. However, conspicuous in its absence has been empathy directed towards
POLICE are investigating a suspected arson attack on a plant hire company in Leigh. Fire crews were called to a yard of O'Connel's Plant Hire in Westleigh Lane, Leigh, at 8pm on Saturday. They battled for two hours to contain the blaze, which started
HEALTH bosses in Burnley are to recruit nurses from overseas to boost staffing at local hospitals. Extra Government cash will be used to bring nurse staffing to new NHS Plan levels required by the Government. Although Burnley Health Trust says it has
A BUSINESSMAN and his wife have been ordered to repay nearly £50,000 after a judge said an elderly aunt appeared to have been "ripped off" before she died. Robert and Michelle Fitzpatrick, of Burnley Road, Accrington, had the county court judgment made
A MIDDLE-AGED man allegedly performed sex acts on a young girl and told her not to tell her parents, a jury was told. Burnley Crown Court heard how the child would sometimes cry as John Michael Hyslop, 58, got her to do "horrible " things. She said she
A "PEACEMAKING" nightclubber suffered multiple head injuries after he was allegedly attacked by a former workmate, a jury heard. Burnley Crown Court heard how David Barnes received a total of five fractures -- including one to his skull and two to his
TRUSTEES of an historic home today blamed money problems and foot and mouth disease for forcing them to close the building after more than 75 years. Bosses at Chaigley Manor today admitted defeat -- just three weeks after a last ditch attempt to save
WHILE Foot and Mouth cripples the county's farms, it has caused a profit surge for an East Lancashire company that sell disinfectant. Option Hygiene, Riverside Industrial Estate, Nelson, has sold 500 per cent more disinfectant since the outbreak. It would
WHERE can you see wilting shillelaghs, vanishing trousers and runaway bladders in one hilarious production? There's a touch of the Blarney at the Little Theatre in River Street, Colne, where members of Colne Dramatic Society are feverishly rehearsing
ANOTHER new shopping development is on its way to Accrington as the town's centre prepares to undergo a massive facelift. More than £1.5million is being spent to demolish the Accrington Business Centre in Hyndburn Road and create two new stores with a
A BUSINESSMAN and his wife have been ordered to repay nearly £50,000 after a judge said an elderly aunt appeared to have been "ripped off" before she died. Robert and Michelle Fitzpatrick, of Burnley Road, Accrington, had the county court judgment made
BOOK lovers from across the country will descend on Longridge this Easter Saturday as it stages is 16th annual second-hand book fair. Around 30 book-sellers from across Britain will turn the town's civic hall into a bazaar for bibliophiles with volumes
TONIGHT'S Selhurst Park showdown might be make-or-break but Wimbledon coach Stewart Robson insists neither his side or the Clarets are under pressure. Both teams are looking to mount a late sprint towards the top six, but Robson believes their status
CLARETS full-back Dean West is hoping he and Burnley have saved the best until last. West made his first start of the season in Friday night's 3-0 win over Preston at Turf Moor and seized the opportunity with an impressive performance. He looks set to
PLAYER-of-the-year prospect Paul Weller is aiming to burst Wimbledon's bubble at Selhurst Park tonight and make Burnley the surprise play-off package. Wimbledon have put together a 15-match unbeaten run to emerge as strong candidates for a late surge
CUSTOMERS at a Grindleton pub can expect the perfect tipple after it won national praise for its wine list. Kathryn and Jeremy Williams of the Duke of York, in Brow Top, were delighted their pub has been listed in the 'highly commended' section of the
LICENSEE Susan Cooke proved a last minute saviour when she stepped in at the 11th hour to save her local from imminent closure. Mrs Cooke swapped supermarket shelves for pulling pints when she and her husband, Howard, took the reins at the Hole House
PLAYER-of-the-year prospect Paul Weller is aiming to burst Wimbledon's bubble at Selhurst Park tonight and make Burnley the surprise play-off package. Wimbledon have put together a 15-match unbeaten run to emerge as strong candidates for a late surge
A NEW freight service has been launched which will enable East Lancashire companies to track the delivery of pallets to customers anywhere in the UK. Christian Salvesen is offering the Internet-based service -- moveyourpallet.com -- to engineering, manufacturing
BURY central defender Sam Collins may need surgery to cure the troubling achilles injury that has reduced him to a spectator. The big Yorkshireman hasn't tasted first team action since limping off against Notts County two weeks ago. His ankle problem
A DARWEN councillor was bemused when the town was mysteriously left off an official party website detailing places with forthcoming elections. Darwen's Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate, Councillor George Lee, made the discovery when he
A RESTAURANT owner today revealed the true extent the foot and mouth outbreak has had on his business. Mark Hilton took over the Lychgate Restaurant, in Sunnyhurst Woods, in January but has not had any customers for the last three Sundays. Officials reopened
FIRE chiefs today blamed building materials used in a tanning studio for the extent of the blaze which gutted the property. An investigations is under way at the Sunworld Tanning Centre, Blackburn Road, Darwen, and police said arson had not been ruled
TOURISM minister and MP for Rossendale and Darwen Janet Anderson, visited Helmshore textile museum as part of the Government's campaign to get across the message that the countryside is not closed because of the foot and mouth disease. Mrs Anderson visited
A DENTAL practice in Rossendale is going private -- leaving half its registered adult patients without a dentist. Three principals run Denpoint Dental Care, the former G Wood Dental Surgeons, with practices in Waterfoot, Haslingden and Rawtenstall. Letters
BLACKBURN Diocesan Adoption Agency is holding an information evening to help prospective parents decide if adoption is the right move for them in an informal, non pressure environment. The event is at 7.45pm on Thursday, April 19 at St Mary's House, in
THE father of five-week-old twins has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm after his injured children were taken to hospital. Paul Harrison, 22, was due to appear on the charge before Blackburn magistrates today. The children's mother, Joanne
DANCERS helped raise more than £1,600 for charity with a Dancerama at King George's Hall, Blackburn. More than 250 dancers, from tots to adults, from the Pat Eakets School of Dance, Blackburn, entertained audiences over four performances to raise money
WESTLIFE'S number one fan was over the moon after the band dedicated a song to her in front of thousands of cheering supporters. Lillian Sleigh, 60, of Wensley Fold, Blackburn, could not believe her ears when she got a special mention after a meet and
Take it on the chin I am not here to be a diplomat and I set out sometimes to wind people up -- it is all part of the fun. I am Clarets born and bred, I have a natural antipathy toward Blackburn Rovers. My column is not supposed to be objective, it is
BOTTLED gas battles are set to continue in Burnley with a new application by Alta Gas to store more butane and propane at its Heasandford site. Briercliffe residents, who successfully beat off two recent attempts by the Merseyside company to expand after
ISN'T it time for Stephen Cummings (LET, April 2) to eat humble pie? How on earth can he comment on the Walkersteel Stand at Ewood Park after I experienced at first hand the cowshed-like Cricket Field stand at Turf Moor. I'm sure he was the only one not
MY friends and I will wholeheartedly be behind Rovers for the remainder of the season, regardless of what happens on or off the pitch. But following on from the "top tenner" ticket last season, I feel I must express my dismay at the latest incentive of
PRESTON'S goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen could miss the rest of the season following Gareth Taylor's tackle in Burnley's 3-0 victory on Friday night. The Finnish international damaged his ankle in the one-on-one incident and David Lucas will step in for tonight's
NELSON are keen to avoid a potential banana skin tonight when the NWCL Division Two leaders visit bottom-of-table Oldham Town. Last season the Blues dropped points against the lower sides which ultimately cost them promotion and full-back Dave Leigh,
THOUGH it is bound to raise moral questions as to whether greater promiscuity is encouraged by free contraception for teenagers, the decision by health chiefs to make it available in one East Lancashire town is a practical response to an already-manifest
EVERTON RESERVES 0 ROVERS RESERVES 0 RISING star Marc Richards could have capped a superb performance with a goal to match against Everton reserves. The 19-year-old, who is just finding his feet in the Rovers reserve side this season, rose to strike an
THE Premiership big guns are already preparing to roll out the red carpet for Blackburn and Fulham as they prepare to slug it out at the top of the First Division table tomorrow night. Rovers moved three points clear of Bolton in the race for the second
BURNLEY MP Peter Pike took part in a blindfold obstacle walk with a guide dog around an obstacle course to back a campaign to give guide dog owners access to minicabs. The event at the House of Commons was organised by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
HEALTH bosses in Burnley are to recruit nurses from overseas to boost staffing at local hospitals. Extra Government cash will be used to bring nurse staffing to new NHS Plan levels required by the Government. Although Burnley Health Trust says it has
CRIME-busting villagers in Sabden have cut through the red-tape and bureaucracy and bought their own spy in the sky. While neighbouring Clitheroe and Whalley search for funding towards running their Home Office funded system, Sabdeners enlisted the long
AT the sharp end of the season there's little margin for error and both Burnley and Wimbledon may be sipping at the last chance saloon tonight. Defeat wouldn't completely dash the play-off hopes of either side. But it would leave them with a mountain
BLACKBURN singers are sought for heat four of a karaoke competition with a chance of winning £100. The contest at Bar Ibiza, in Market Street Lane, Blackburn, will whittle down contestants from eight heats to a grand final on May 31. Heat two winner was
AFTER trying a number of jobs, Jack Dearden thought landing a job at the local brewery would last only a few weeks. But this week Jack said farewell to his workmates when he called time after 40 years. Jack, from Daisyfield, in Blackburn, was presented
THE Premiership big guns are already preparing to roll out the red carpet for Blackburn and Fulham as they prepare to slug it out at the top of the First Division table tomorrow night. Rovers moved three points clear of Bolton in the race for the second
FREE contraception is set to be made available to teenagers in a Hyndburn town in a bid to reduce to the number of teenage pregnancies. At the centre of a new campaign to reduce Hyndburn's higher-than-average pregnancy rate is a new drop-in sex clinic
STEPHEN Cummings' column (LET, April 2) gave me a sneaking suspicion that he never actually attended the Rovers v Burnley game, but chose instead to sit at home with the telly and radio both switched off and fingers crossed, hoping for the best. This
WITH the Clarets more or less safe, why not give young players Anthony Shandran and Bradley Maylett an extended run in the first team until the end of the season? These two, I believe, have a great chance of going on to bigger things. Anthony Shandran
THE Bishop of Blackburn has called for parishioners to visit rural churches over Easter and help save them from extinction. The Rt Rev Alan Chesters wants to see urban congregations spread out after the outbreak of foot and mouth left many rural churches
AFTER a superb day on Sunday at the Rovers v Burnley derby, I looked forward to the usual high standard of post-match coverage your paper offers -- as consistent as ever with both teams match reports and views from both sides. I read both reports and
PROTESTING farmers have won their battle to stop the use of a Pilsworth landfill site as a burial ground for animals slaughtered during the foot and mouth crisis. The former quarry, off Pilsworth Road, Bury, has now been removed from a list of 31 suitable
IN reply to the Rev Paul Sweeting aged 32 (Letters, March 23), it is good to know that chaps of his age can still boogie! I wrote the Abba Mania review (LET, March 5) to which he referred and was exceedingly grateful for the enthusiasm that he and his
IAGREE with Mrs Gladys Robinson (Letters, March 27) -- corporal punishment would be the answer to a lot of our problems. Only the other night, I was working on my girlfriend's car in Great Harwood when a group of youths raced on to the street, pursued
STOCKPORT County boss Andy Kilner has confirmed that he wants to sign out-of-favour Rovers defender Simon Grayson in the summer. Grayson has just completed a three-month loan spell at Edgeley Park and returned to Ewood this week. However, Kilner will
THE debate raged across the table. Two Rovers supporters on opposite sides, one Rovers player the subject of their difference of opinion. Marcus Bent. Is he the rapier-sharp striker we need, the perfect foil for Matt Jansen, someone who'll always give
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice was today backing a call for young people to boycott Coca Cola until US President George Bush changes his mind over global warming. The soft drinks giant was a major donor to the Republican's successful campaign for the White
TRAFFIC congestion in Colne is expected to be eased with the introduction of new measures. Members of the Colne and District Committee approved the proposals, which forbid waiting at any time on the east side of Skipton Road between Byron Road and Oak
THEATRE-GOING in a group has proved to be a popular way of seeing shows for dozens of people in Hyndburn. Hyndburn Theatre Group has seen 19 performances including Phantom of the Opera, Carousel, Dr Doolittle, An Inspector Calls, Annie and The Nutcracker
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to rid an East Lancashire town of its 'biggest eyesore.' Councillors and residents are appealing for a massive, rusty grey gas holder in Heys Lane to be painted to improve Great Harwood's townscape. Local councillor Coun Lin
PREPARE for tonight's game with a view on the key players set to turn out for the Dons. BIG MONEY MAN: Darren Holloway: Wimbledon paid Sunderland £1.5 million for the 23-year-old defender at the start of the season. After a shaky start the former Bolton
THERE's something about Friday night football which seems to bring out the best in Burnley. One recalls the last time the Clarets were featured live on Sky's Friday night programme, when they recorded a 3-1 win over Stan Ternent's Bury. Last season brought
A PUB landlord is carrying on with a cider festival because it was so popular. The fourth annual Albion Cider Festival, at the Albion Inn, in Clayton-le-Moors, was supposed to finish at the weekend but landlord John Burke said it was still going on. John
MOVE over FTSE , the North West now has its own shares index. The Stock Exchange has launched landMARK north west which groups together around 120 companies from the region whose shares are traded on either the main market or AIM. The index tracks the
A GRADE II listed mill in Stacksteads which was badly damaged by fire in January is set to be redeveloped. Nunn Hills Mill, Blackwood Road, Stacksteads, was used by two firms before the fire. Stylegleam used the premises as a shoe and clothing store and
MATTHEW Hirst ended up fighting with his friends after they tried to stop him arguing with a police officer late at night. Blackburn magistrates heard that Hirst was seen banging on the window of a private hire taxi, demanding to be taken home. A policeman
THE rantings of Stephen Cummings (LET, April 2) are the latest in a sorry saga of prejudices, fuelled by jealousy and inept attempts to insult Blackburn Rovers and their supporters. Mr Cummings' inability to write objectively about footballing matters
A GREAT grandmother today told how a no-win-no fee accident claims company took half her award in fees. Accident victim Margaret Hart spoke after the Lancashire Evening Telegraph yesterday revealed that accident claim companies had been touting for business
AN anti drugs drive piloted in Blackburn is to go nationwide at a cost of £5million. And all football league clubs in Britain are being urged to follow the lead of Blackburn Rovers. Home Secretary and local MP Jack Straw joined Chancellor Gordon Brown
Great Harwood 0 St Helens 1 GREAT Harwood slipped to their third NWCL Division One loss in four games against promotion-chasing St Helens at Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground. But Denis Underwood's side, second from bottom of the division, made St Helens
HUNDREDS of elderly people could receive free home care if radical proposals are approved. But Bury's social services bosses have lodged a protest, insisting that Government's plans will break the bank. They claim that a new charging regime will cost
