Blackburn Breast Care Support Group, Beardwood Hospital, Preston New Road, Blackburn, 7pm-9pm. "An Evening of Colour and Style," with Lesley Perrin. 'Craftsmen At Work: Walking Canes, Hand-made Soaps, Artist/Ceramics,' Samlesbury Hall, Preston New Road
AM I the only one to be confused about the Conservative policy on the euro? The Labour party, as I understand it, have said they will hold a referendum on whether we join or not. The Conservatives say that a Labour government will definitely adopt the
REGARDING your report "Clamping threat signs gone at last" (LET, May 28), I really could not believe what I was reading -- that a garage owner was praised for removing illegal signs. The signs should never have been put up in the first place, and despite
AS you reported (LET, May 17), I proposed that Hyndburn should change its name to Hyndburn Valley to make it more interesting to tourists. I also asked for all tourist information to be headed: "Hyndburn Valley -- Home to Accrington Stanley." Two of your
BIKE-mad Jason Thorpe was so shocked by the speed of his powerful Honda Fireblade when he was caught in a police radar trap -- he immediately sold the machine. For furniture-maker Jason, 28, of Helmsdale Road, Nelson, clocked in at an amazing 144.6mph
SEVEN new outbreaks of foot and mouth brought heartbreak to the Ribble Valley over the weekend -- but officials today insisted: "We are still in control." The confirmed cases - six in Bolton by Bowland and one in Paythorne - took the total to 12 since
PLANS to celebrate the start of National Volunteers Week with the presentation of awards to St John Ambulance volunteers have been blown apart by the recent postal dispute. Preston's Mayor and Mayoress, Coun and Mrs Alan Hackett, were to attend an evening
A PRESTON bookworm is set to rub shoulders with some famous faces after being selected as a judge for the Blue Peter book awards 2001. Hutton Grammar School pupil Greg James, 11, of Liverpool Road, Hutton, is one of only nine youngsters to join the panel
HUNDREDS of visitors descended on Preston over the Bank holiday for the town's annual Caribbean Carnival. Despite fears that numbers would suffer because of the Preston North End Premiership bid in Cardiff, organisers say the historic 27-year-old event
THIS match was just a bridge too far for North End as a season which has been absolutely wonderful for everyone connected with Preston fell apart at the final hurdle. Forget that final scoreline for in no way does it reflect the closeness of the match
TERRITORIAL Army soldier Corporal Gordon Barrett endured searing temperatures in a 250 kilometre trek across one of Africa's most hostile deserts. Cpl Barrett of the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers, left behind his civilian role as a staff nurse with
A DRIVER was fighting for his life in the Royal Preston Hospital today after suffering massive internal injuries when his car was in a head-on collision with a motorway truck on the outskirts of Padiham. Jonathan Bettess, 31, of Temple View, Whalley Road
IT was party time for a fast-growing before-and-after-school group as it celebrated its first birthday. The St Philip's Church, Nelson, Family Centre also organises a mums and toddlers playgroup and a holiday-time club for kids. The group, supported by
ON her return from a week in a secret location, Big Brother hopeful Anne Edgar was amazed at the response she received. The Nelson gran flew back to Manchester on Saturday accompanied by her own personal minder and was instantly recognised by a member
NO doubt the organisers of the two-day Arts In The Park festival that is one of the top features next month of Blackburn's "150th birthday" celebrations are hoping for a repeat of the event's success last year when more than 20,000 people were drawn to
DANCERS from throughout the North converged on Colne for Week One of the Luther Greenwood Memorial Dance Festival. And stepping in for the first time as festival secretary was Penelope Hall, who is keeping up a long family connection with the ever popular
BUDDING poets are being invited to enter the Preston Writers' Guild annual competition with a chance of scooping the £100 top prize. Winning entries of the 6th annual challenge will be published in next year's edition of the Guild's Write Stuff book.
COME on you cyclists, get on yer bike and help raise money for Children In Crisis. The charity is looking for fit, enthusiastic people to either cycle or trek across China to raise funds for Tibetan normadic children living in the Qinghai Province in
COUNCILLOR Howard Gore says he wants to develop the democratic cabinet system adapted by the authority in January last year under the leadership of former council leader Coun Gina Lewis. He is calling for greater political participation and urges people
HOSPITAL patients were to get luxury treatment in a top hotel. In an pioneering move to speed up the NHS, about two dozen cataract sufferers were to be booked into the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, for operations to restore their sight.
By Lesley Richards THE death of dedicated youth worker Janet Burn has stunned colleagues. Wigan Youth Service workmates were this week mourning the loss of Janet, who collapsed and died suddenly at the age of 45. Janet, who lived in Culcheth, started
A MEMORIAL plaque to the Jesuit priest and major Victorian poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, will be dedicated at the Leigh church where he was a former curate next week. Parish Priest at St Joseph's RC Church, the Rev Fr Austin Hughes, has given the North
POLICE are deploying a new weapon in the war against vandalism in schools -- children's gossip! A group of youngsters from Fern Gore, Accrington, were taken by police to Lancashire force's helicopter base in Warton, near Preston, at the weekend. The youngsters
THE Care for the Family charity needs the help of readers to find 'Neighbours from Heaven'. The group is looking for nominations for people to receive one of ten special awards, to be given during 'Neighbours from Heaven' week, from July 21-28. The winners
ATHERTON swimmers are taking their marks for a massive sponsored swim in the hope of making their centenary year of celebration a success. Club members are pulling out all the stops to raise cash for their party year, despite fears that the council may
The fatal flaw with our electoral system, is that politicians are usually only measured from their chin upwards! A clever brain and a quick tongue seem to be their chief requirements. In complete contrast, God looks below the chin and into the heart and
A FAULTY safety switch may have cost a mother-of-three her life. An inquest at Bury heard how despite frantic attempts by workmates to save Margaret Shaw, the 41-year-old Tyldesley woman died almost instantly from horrendous injuries after her clothing
AN IMPORTED dream machine has become a £20,000 nightmare, claims a performance car enthusiast. John Hewitt, 50, of Long Lane, Hindley Green, was fortunately able to rely on his standby 22-year-old British-built TVR when his new Alfa Romeo began suffering
BROADCASTER and writer Sheridan Morley will host a literary dinner at the Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn, on June 26. Mr Morley, son of actor Robert Morley, was invited to be the biographer of Sir John Gielgud, who died last year, and copies will be available
I AM sorry to see the good people of Leigh getting themselves all hot and bothered over Daily Mail columnist Lynda Lee Potter's recent comments about the town's architecture. Lynda is a no-nonsense type of person, as are the people of Leigh, and there's
A LOOK at the local cricket resutls. COLNE v TODMORDEN COLNE J Ellis ct Nicholson b Clayton...69 G Hunt lbw Dearden...25 North b Clayton...51 G Laycock...b Oddy 18 S Woods run out...49 R Murgatroyd lbw Nicholson...6 M Wilson not out...4 Extras...37 Total
DARWEN moved into the semi final of the Nuffield Cup thanks to a close fought victory at Fleetwood on Sunday. After winning the toss, Darwen elected to bat and Horsfield and Lowe got them off to a positive start, adding 29 for the first wicket before
HOLDERS Todmorden crashed out of the Worsley Cup with barely a whimper as they recorded their worst result in the competition since 1921. The Centre Vale side were devastated as they lost by an astonishing 144 runs in the quarter-finals to 1999 Cup winners
DALE Benkenstein reckons Worsley Cup glory is within Burnley's grasp -- but feels they are still too far off to be up there challenging for the Transco Lancashire League title. The South African is in his second spell at Turf Moor and wants to emulate
A ROUND-UP of the local cricket scorecards. LOWERHOUSE V NELSON LOWERHOUSE 169-6 NELSON 130-8 LOWERHOUSE 10 pts, NELSON 2pts LOWERHOUSE N Hope run out...5 C Cottam lbw Heap...4 C Bleazard c Bradley b Heap...60 Henderson c Willan b Roberts...41 F Entwistle
BOURNEMOUTH boss Sean O'Driscoll is said to be bracing himself for a renewed bid from the Clarets for defender Eddie Howe. Burnley boss Stan Ternent made an offer, thought to be £600,000, for the Cherries star in March but this was turned down. But Bournemouth
THE sweet smell of success is pervading The Perfume Shop in Blackburn's shopping centre. The store's parent company Merchant Retail has reported a 34 per cent increase in profits to £8 million for the past 12 months. Chief executive Philip Newton said
NORTH WEST businesses are among the least optimistic about their future sales growth, according to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. In what is seen as a critical barometer of the mood of industry, the survey reports that companies in
THE RSPB is launching a new poll to find the nation's favourite bird song after research found that listening to birds was more popular than EastEnders. People can vote for their favourite bird song on the society's website, www.repb.org.uk or call 0870
YOUNGSTERS from two Darwen churches joined forces to present a half term puppet show for the rest of the congregation. Sunday school children from Bolton Road United Reformed Church and Springvale Methodist Church met as part of the ongoing development
BUSY BEES at Leigh Asda have raised £300 to send a local child on a Honeypot holiday. Honeypot House, in the New Forest, provides holidays for deserving children, many of whom have never visited the countryside or seen the seaside, let alone had a holiday
A BANK holiday weekend spectacular of family fun is promised at Leigh's fantastic free May Dayze festival. On Sunday, local artists and performers, as well as entertainers from much further afield, will thrill the crowds with comedy, dance, street theatre
LOCAL poets are being offered the chance to say thanks to someone with a heart of gold. Poetry Now is seeking poems which pay tribute to a good Samaritan who has offered help, support and comfort in a time of need. Writers should send up to two peoms
HELP the Aged will this week thank its helpers for their dedication to improving the lives of older people. To celebrate Volunteers' Week (June 1-7) the charity's shops, including Bradshawgate, Leigh, are taking part in a window dressing competition.
THE top Parkside Colliery Male Voice Choir will star at Hindley St Peter's Church summer concert. The choristers have once again prepared a programme from a wide choice of popular songs for their performance on June 8 at 7.30pm. The choir's fame has spread
AN Asian councillor is set to be a step closer to his dream of an Islamic day school for Rossendale. Planners are being recommended tomorrow nightto approve Coun Abu Asad Choudhury's plans to use two floors of his Saffron Restaurant in Burnley Road, Rawtenstall
A KARATE expert will lead a special training session in memory of a Leigh black belt who died in March after a brave fight against cancer. Following the death of Sean Slater, who died earlier this year from cancer of the spleen and liver, martial arts
RESIDENTS are being given the chance to air their views on the council's provision of mental health services for older people. They will be able to state their opinions at a consultation day on the subject at Wigan's Investment Centre on June 19, when
AN Atherton firm is offering a £1,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of a stolen company van. The white Ford Transit was snatched as staff at the North West Fireplace Centre were loading it at the Four Lane Ends business at 9.25am last
HOME Secretary and Labour candidate Jack Straw has backed a former Conservative councillor's bid to retain her seat in next week's local elections. Labour Party bosses decided to withdraw their candidate for the Pleasington and Livesey seat -- opting
A MASSIVE increase in the number of recorded racist incidents has been hailed as a positive sign by the Lancashire police authority. The 33 per cent rise is seen as demonstrating increasing public confidence in the police, encouraging victims to report
A LIFE spent touring the globe with some of the world's most glamourous rock stars would be a dream for most people. But when it came to the crunch for truck driver Terry Holcroft, life on the road with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Oasis
ELDERLY residents have criticised the police for failing to act swiftly to stop half-term holiday yobs making their lives hell. They say youngsters have been hanging around Lingfield Court, Feniscowles, banging on windows, pressing intercoms, kicking
DANIEL O'Donnell fans have been braving the elements to queue up for days to get their hands on tickets for the Irish crooner's visit to Blackburn. Reporter Sonja Karlsen went on to the streets of Blackburn to join the singer's loyal supporters for a
THE BOYS on the pitch may not have done themselves justice on the day but there was no doubt about the performance of the fans -- they were simply fantastic. More than 30,000 Preston fans made the journey to the Millennium Stadium by train, coach or car
LEIGH'S first lady of journalism, columnist Lynda Lee Potter, has had another go at her home town. In her national newspaper column last week, she said the Market Place buildings were the ugliest and nastiest she has ever seen. A bit strong maybe - but
IMAGINE the hell suffered by the elderly residents of an East Lancashire housing complex as youths were repeatedly running wild around their homes during the school holidays. They had to endure them banging on their windows, pressing intercoms, kicking
PEOPLE who manage to lead successful and fulfilling lives -- despite suffering the often-crippling pain of arthritis -- are to be celebrated during Arthritis Research Week, June 2-9. Medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign is highlighting
I APPRECIATE just how difficult it is for Eric Leaver to come up with the required controversial column every Wednesday and obviously local politicians are usually fair game. Indeed, East Lancashire has its fair share of pompous, patronising poseurs in
TORRENTIAL rain did not prevent students at Bury College from pounding the pavements for charity. Around 30 of them undertook a sponsored ten-mile trek from Rawtenstall railway station to Bury College. Pictured are some of the waterproofed walkers (from
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is keeping close tabs on French defender Jerome Bonnissel as he steps up his efforts to bring in new blood this summer. Ewood chief Souness is a keen admirer of the highly-rated Bordeaux full-back. And he is said to be monitoring
TWO Preston College students are snipping their way to success after being picked as finalists in a national hairdressing competition. Lucy Mills and Tracy Blackburn, both 18, will be competing against highly trained teams from top salons, Toni and Guy
A TEENAGE racing driver from Preston is gearing up to get behind the wheel for a championship event on the world-famous Silverstone track. Tom Boardman will take part in his first night-time competition on Saturday as part of the www.theAA.com British
THE BOYS on the pitch may not have done themselves justice on the day but there was no doubt about the performance of the fans -- they were simply fantastic. More than 30,000 Preston fans made the journey to the Millennium Stadium by train, coach or car
POLICE are renewing their appeal for witnesses following a serious sex attack in Bank Hall Park, Burnley, on Thursday. Det Sgt Peter Simm said: "We now believe that the girl has met this lad near to a tunnel or bridge on a path in Thompson Park but that
BIKE-mad Jason Thorpe was so shocked by the speed of his powerful Honda Fireblade when he was caught in a police radar trap -- he immediately sold the machine. For furniture-maker Jason, 28, of Helmsdale Road, Nelson, clocked in at an amazing 144.6mph
A MULTI-million pound-plan to redevelop the heart of Pendle town centre has brought a big yawn from the public. Town planners said proposals to rebuild a central section of Nelson town centre, following the fire at the old Grand Cinema in Market Street
A HOTEL in the Ribble Valley was named as Hotel of the Year at a top national awards ceremony. The Gibbon Bridge Country House Hotel, near Chipping, won the votes of the judges in the Association for Catering Excellence competition at Warwick Castle.
A LEIGH man's battle with cancer is helping others beat the killer condition. Tom Aspinall, 51, a contracts manager from Eastwood Grove, was diagnosed with cancer of the lymphatic system last March. Mr Aspinall has now fought back to fitness after undergoing
MEMBERS of the 1st Clayton-le-Moors Scouts are preparing for Thursday's elections with a bit of house-keeping. Their unit is being used as a polling station and the building is being spruced up as the lads brush up on their skills for the recently introduced
A FURIOUS mother-of-three fears a playground's rock sculptures are an accident waiting to happen. Atherton resident Zita Bickerton's claim comes after her five-year-old son Abraham cut his head open after falling against one of six boulders erected at
AN exciting line-up of world-renowned artists is tuning up for the Ribble Valley International Piano Week. Leading British violinist Tasmin Little opens the festival, at the Centenaries Theatre, Stonyhurst, on Sunday, June 17, with her long-time musical
BOURNEMOUTH boss Sean O'Driscoll is said to be bracing himself for a renewed bid from the Clarets for defender Eddie Howe. Burnley boss Stan Ternent made an offer, thought to be £600,000, for the Cherries star in March but this was turned down. But Bournemouth
LANCASHIRE are buzzing again - thanks to Glen Chapple and Warren Hegg. They snatched a thrilling victory from the jaws of defeat at Northampton on Saturday with an unbroken eighth wicket stand of 136, ending Lancashire's miserable record of not winning
IT WAS Ian Austin's day for Haslingden at Rishton, scoring 84 runs and taking seven wickets to knock the Blackburn side off the top of the Transco Lancashire League table. Austin took seven wickets for just eight runs, which was thought to have been the
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is keeping close tabs on French defender Jerome Bonnissel as he steps up his efforts to bring in new blood this summer. Ewood chief Souness is a keen admirer of the highly-rated Bordeaux full-back. And he is said to be monitoring
THE Blackburn company which manufactures the plastic cones that keep Britain's motorways accident-free has won its own safety award. Plastics blow moulding specialists Weltonhurst is one of only 10 companies in the country to win the new Health and Safety
VISITORS to the Rolls-Royce exhibit at the Paris Air Show will be able to see at first hand the contribution made by the 1,000 workers at the aerospace group's Barnoldswick site. The company has produced a mock-up of an engine which will enable visitors
MIDSUMMER madness is being encouraged by the Meningitis Research foundation, which wants Journal readers to raise money while having fun this summer. All activities can be given a fund-raising theme and those interested in taking part should contact the
IF you could adopt or foster a homeless animal, the Leigh and district branch of Petsearch wants to hear from you. The voluntary service that helps reunite lost pets with their owners is also asking for old leads, collars, beds, cages and blankets. For
ONE lucky ticket holder has scooped the top prize of £100 in the Darwen Petticoat Lane raffle competition. The annual event pulled in hundreds of visitors on Bank Holiday Monday despite the disappointing weather in the morning. The cash prize goes to
POLICE in Darwen are warning homeowners to keep a close eye on their gardens after a spate of plant thefts in the area. The latest incident occurred in Cyprus Street, Darwen, when thieves stole two hanging baskets from the front of a house. And staff
A FORMER Darwen fireman has been reunited with his family more than 35 years after emigrating to the other side of the world. James Almond, 59, made the 25-hour flight from Australia, to be guest of honour at his 61-year-old brother Keith's wedding. Keith
TYLDESLEY Probus Club heard about new plans for Salford Museum and Art Gallery at its last meeting. Gallery representative Ann Monaghan told members museum staff are building a new visitor experience, following the transfer of the L S Lowry paintings
TWO balaclava-clad thugs threatened female cashiers with a meat cleaver before snatching cash and cigarettes from a Tyldesley off-licence. Police are appealing for witnesses after the raid on Bargain Booze in Sale Lane at 9.50pm last Thursday night. The
A MOBILE phone mast, antennae and dishes planned for green belt land are set to be thrown out because it would be an 'alien feature' in the countryside. Orange wants to site a seven-metre slimline lattice tower, six antennae and four dishes and ten cabins
A MASKED gang got away with the day's takings after threatening supermarket staff with a heavy spanner and an axe. Police say three balaclava-clad thugs burst into Kwik Save in Atherton Road, Hindley Green at 8.10pm on Wednesday. The gang escaped in a
A LOWTON-BASED company is mounting a serious assault on Europe. Fontaine VGB, the second largest manufacturer of fifth wheel couplings in the world, is attempting to crack the fifth wheel market. The company, which was taken over by the US-owned Marmon
PLANS are under way for a permanent reminder of the new millennium in Culcheth. Thanks to the Civic Trust, set up by the parish council to take advantage of landfill tax cash, money has been secured for the proposed project on the theme of time, and will
JOURNAL readers are being asked to keep a look out for one of the area's most valuable dogs. A Golden Retriever guide dog -- which cost £32,000 to train for its specialist role -- has escaped from its owner's garden in Lower Ince and is believed to be
WIGAN Council can congratulate itself on a premium insurance triumph. The first year of the new home-contents scheme has succeeded beyond all expectations for the housing department and tenants involved. More than 2,000 - over seven per cent of tenants
A BLACKPOOL man died after fire tore through his flat at the weekend. Leslie Faulkner, 53, was found unconscious by firefighters in the front bedroom of his burning first floor flat on Boston Way, Marton in the early hours of Saturday morning. Concerned
A VOLUNTEER will rub shoulders with royalty when she picks up the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award at Buckingham Palace. Katrina Morton, 20, of Darkwood Lane, Samlesbury will travel down to London on July 17 after completing the award's stages. She will
BLACKBURN felt the noise as 25,000 people descended on Ewood Park for the largest concert ever to be held in the town. More than a dozen acts took to the stage -- built in front of the Walkersteel Stand especially for the gig -- including boy bands 5ive
North End have announced that two players who were out of contract at the end of the current season have been released, while a third has been offered an extension to his contract. The two players who have been released are left-back Dominic Ludden and
THE SCENES at the end of the match at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff were quite different to anything that I have seen in football before. The sight of those thousands of brilliant North End supporters waving their banners and scarves in defeat makes
LITTLE Peter Tickle is the picture of health and happiness but a piece of his human jigsaw is missing, casting doubt over his future. The lively five-year-old suffers from a rare chromosome disorder with his condition so unusual that doctors have no idea
GERRY Luczka has set his sights on management after leaving Nationwide Conference surprise guys Leigh RMI. The Hilton Park club's first team coach has quit after three years with the Railwaymen, who finished an incredible fifth in their first season in
