JUST as the tragic loss of a Blackburn man's life was confirmed by the recovery of his body from the reservoir in which he had gone swimming, there came shocking evidence of this very danger being ignored by youngsters plunging in another one a few miles
STEFAN Morrison was arrested twice in the space of 24 hours for his own protection after drinking himself into oblivion, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that on both occasions when police were called they found him unable to stand or talk
POLICE are warning drivers of Citron Saxo cars to be extra vigilant after a spate of thefts from the model. Detectives say thieves are targeting this particular make of car parked in Blackburn as they are quick and easy to break into. They are now advising
IRECENTLY spent some time in Ward 19 at Blackburn Infirmary having a hip replacement operation. I cannot praise the staff too highly -- they were marvellous. Having arrived home, I had the task of learning to walk with the aid of crutches, not an easy
IWONDER if your readers can help my father. He has suffered four strokes and had a kidney and his bladder removed all in the space of the last five years. He lives with his wife in a bungalow in Accrington, which is ideal for them but for the garden.
IT must be very tempting for newspaper writers to give up on the crisis of the countryside after all these weeks and months. It is also very tempting for Christians and the church to pretend it is all over and there is nothing more that we can do. The
A PROMISING young goalkeeper on the books of Manchester United was left brain damaged after a fight outside a Lowton pub. Allen Marsh was taken to hospital unconscious and a scan revealed swelling to the brain, bruising and multiple haemorrhages. Now
THRILL-SEEKERS were today warned they were dicing with death after being caught swimming in open water across East Lancashire in the wake of a tragic drowning. The body of Mitchell Bury, 33, was recovered by police divers yesterday afternoon -- two days
FORMER union boss Lord Clarke will head the Task Force charged with rooting out the causes of last month's Burnley riots and drawing up an action plan to tackle the town's problems, it was revealed today. Independent group leader Harry Brooks said the
Rossendale United 1 Leigh RMI 2 LEIGH RMI eased to their second victory of the pre-season with a hard-earned 2-1 win at Rossendale United. There was no sign of ex-Bolton Wanderers duo Neil Fisher and Steve Thompson in the side that faced last season's
TURKISH midfield ace Tugay Kerimoglu today revealed he ditched Rangers for Rovers because he believes he can win things under new boss Graeme Souness. The 30-year-old playmaker, pictured, checked into Brockhall yesterday for the first time since he completed
FORMER Chorley striker Lee Trundle is facing up to the most important four days of his life as Second Division Wrexham prepare to take on Blackburn Rovers at the Racecourse Ground tonight. The precocious 24-year-old has already attracted a posse of scouts
PROFITS from a fun run organised by Burnley College students is going to charity. The Cancer Research Campaign is getting a bumper £797 from the College Higher National Diploma sports studies year two who arranged a 10k road race and fun run in March
NEIGHBOURS today spoke of their sympathy for the family of a man jailed for three years for drugs offences in Cyprus. There was no sign of life today at the home of Paul Hartley, who was jailed along with Lee Mortimer, 22, of Padiham, for importing and
AN inquest was being held in Burnley today into a factory incident in which a contractor was crushed to death. Robert McPhearson, 47, of Hyde, Manchester, died in the incident at the Cloverbrook factory in Gannow Lane, Burnley, in February. Today's inquest
FORMER union boss Lord Clarke will head the Task Force charged with rooting out the causes of last month's Burnley riots and drawing up an action plan to tackle the town's problems, it was revealed today. Independent group leader Harry Brooks said the
A YOUNG dad said to have kidnapped and terrorised his ex-partner's boyfriend, claiming he would be called the "next Yorkshire Ripper" has been cleared. Joseph Taylor had first given victim Demis Morrison a "beating" and was alleged to bundled him into
MOTORWAY police in Lancashire are praising a high-tech new system for recognising number plates on stolen cars. While the Automated Number Plate Recognition system (ANPR) has been in use in the area for around 12 months, its greatest success came recently
ANNE Armitage was thrilled when her prize winning poem tribute to Blackpool Tower was buried for 100 years. Anne, of Barnfield Street, Accrington, wrote the poem for the tower's centenary celebrations and watched in delight as her ode was placed in a
AN 89-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease fell and broke her hip at The Mount in Accrington where she was a long-term patient. An inquest heard that retired weaver Amy Hope underwent surgery to repair the joint but subsequently died of bronchopneumonia
RESIDENTS in the Barnfield area of Accrington could soon benefit from an extended bus service which will give them back their freedom. Currently the 9a and 9c bus routes which service the top of Sandy Lane and Wensley Drive stop at 3.30pm, which means
A DEPUTY head teacher breached his position of responsibility by molesting three pupils in his care, a court has been told. John Cartmell, a member of staff at St Mary's RC school, Oswaldtwistle, is alleged to have indecently assaulted two youngsters
LEIGH market hall traders, whose businesses have been hit by building work on the £2m Spinning Gate mall extension, have suffered a new blow. They have learned that their rents are to rise by two and a half per cent from November. Now the angry stallholders
POLICE were today continuing their search for a man on the run from a hospital. Calderstones Hospital patient Andrew Sutcliffe went missing nearly three weeks ago. Andrew, 18, slipped out of the back door of his mother's house in Burnage, Manchester while
AN action-plan to spend £42million on improving Ribble Valley's council houses is set to be approved by councillors. A 30-year plan has been drawn up by Ribble Valley Council officers in accordance with Government guidance. The plan reveals that majority
CHLOE Ingham is gearing up for a place in the record books after setting off on a charity bike ride stretching the complete length of the country -- at the age of nine! Chloe, of Blackburn Road, Ribchester, is set to become the youngest registered person
TRIALIST Arthur Gnohere entertained the Burnley fans last night while trying to earn himself a contract at Turf Moor. The 22-year-old French defender, who is from the Ivory Coast, came on as one of 11 substitutes used by Burnley boss Stan Ternent in the
ON the cricket front, we would obviously have liked to have reached the final of one of the cups. We got knocked out of the inter-league cup in the quarter-finals and then we went out of the Worsley Cup in the semis. But we have won four out of five games
Results -- Saturday: Baxenden 223-3 (7) Earby 172 (0); Blackburn Northern 119-6 (5) Ribblesdale Wdrs 118-9 (0); Clitheroe 151 (0) Settle 152-6 (7); Edenfield 226-9 (0) Barnoldswick 263-4 (5); Great Harwood 161 (0) Cherry Tree 230-6 (7); Read 150 (0) Oswaldtwistle
NORTHERN Premier Cricket League results Division One: Blackpool 110-6 (12) Leyland Motors 109 (1); Darwen 251-6 (8) Morecambe 121-7 (5); Kendal 182-7 (12) Preston 180 (3); Lancaster 73 (1) Fleetwood 178-7 (15); Leyland 103 (3) Chorley 149 (15); St Annes
READ 150 OSWALDTWISTLE 153-9 Read 0 pts Oswaldtwistle 7 pts OSWALDTWISTLE N Payne c Raza b Newby ... 4 P Myers b Newby ... 1 S Sadiq c Whalley b Raza ... 30 G Metcalfe c Whalley b Raza ... 18 C Maudsley b Newby ... 0 P Dignan b Raza ... 22 Carr lbw Newby
LEIGH visited Lytham on Saturday in a league match which they felt they had to win in order to halt a slide down the Liverpool Competition league table and give themselves a boost. However, Leigh had not accounted for Lytham's big guns as they set about
THE issue of 75,000 free condoms to youngsters in East Lancashire in a bid to slash disturbingly-high levels of teenage pregnancies has inevitably caused controversy over whether the problem will be reduced or whether teenage sex will only be encouraged
IN the planning jargon of town-hall-speak 'visual amenity' means something nice to look at. Yet, amazingly, in the eyes of Ribble Valley Council, something that's now detrimental to that are centuries-old beech, ash, oak and sycamore trees - 41 of which
IS not the recent umpteenth revival of debate over the legalisation of cannabis a somewhat academic sideshow, when here in East Lancashire we now have official sanction for the possession and use of illegal drugs that can kill? For what else does it amount
TRIALIST Arthur Gnohere entertained the Burnley fans last night while trying to earn himself a contract at Turf Moor. The 22-year-old French defender, who is from the Ivory Coast, came on as one of 11 substitutes used by Burnley boss Stan Ternent in the
BUDDING writers visiting Darwen Library were given a chance at fame. The one hour session was designed to encourage youngsters to become more enthusiastic about the library as well as alleviating some summer holiday boredom. The 36 youngsters aged seven
FORMER pupils from an Atherton primary school will be getting together to reminisce about the 1940s. Roy Birchall has organised a reunion party at Atherton Cricket Club on September 28, for anyone who attended the school from 1940-1945. For more information
POLICE are warning people to be wary of anyone trying to sell them PlayStation and PC games. The computer games were stolen during a burglary at Cannings newsagents in Leigh town centre on Wednesday, July 18. Anyone with information should contact police
THRILL-SEEKERS were today warned they were dicing with death after being caught swimming in open water across East Lancashire in the wake of a tragic drowning. The body of Mitchell Bury, 33, was recovered by police divers yesterday afternoon -- two days
ROSSENDALE Search and Rescue Team's plans to build a new centre have been dashed -- because the lottery said they don't fit in with this year's priorities for cash. Two members of the team Stuart Charnley and Andy Freeman attended a lottery surgery in
VILLAGERS are demanding action to get rid of swarms of super-resilient flies which they claim are coming from a nearby landfill site. People from Astley Green are fed up of having to stock up on insect repellent and fly paper in an effort to get rid of
THE first teaching assistant at Westleigh Methodist School, Sylvia Winstanley, said goodbye for now to staff and pupils at the end of term. For Sylvia, who retired after 29 years at the Westleigh School, is going back in September -- as a volunteer. The
to Frances, 103 THE oldest member of an Atherton theatre has been rewarded for her support with a floral tribute. Frances Butler celebrated her 103rd birthday in June and is the only member in Manor Fold Residential Home's 20-year history to reach such
TRIBUTES were paid to late council leader Coun George Bancroft at a special council meeting in Blackpool Town Hall. After an opening prayer from the Rev Michael Manley, council colleagues across the political spectrum and local community leaders spoke
MOTORWAY police in Lancashire have praised a new high-tech system for recognising car number plates that helped to find a missing teenager near Blackpool. The Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system is a camera linked to a computer which can
BLACKPOOL council's chief executive has announced his wish to seek early retirement from his "challenging" job at the town hall. Graham Essex-Crosby announced that he hoped to retire at the end of March, 2002, after almost 30 years of continuous service
DIVORCEE Catherine Milligan struck up a close relationship with her first boyfriend after the acrimonious breakdown of her marriage, a court was told. But the course of true love took a tragic twist when he suffered a fractured skull in an accident at
EAST Lancashire schools are being offered a unique chance to clown around - in exchange for a loan of their land. And Mike Auspin, who owns and runs Circus Jinnett, could launch the performing careers of talented local youngsters. Mike has agreed to hand
NELSON stepped up a gear in their build-up to the season with a deserved 3-2 victory over Unibond opponents Ossett Town. With a stronger side than the previous Saturday, the Blues always looked a more confident outfit. They took the lead after nine minutes
Teddy Bears Picnic, Livesey Library, Cherry Tree Lane, Blackburn, 2pm-3pm. Fun and Games for the over five's, Roman Road Library, Fishmoor Drive, Blackburn. Football Coaching for ages eight to 14 years, Haslingden Sports Centre. "Discovering Feedom" -
THIS column is called Nature Watch and this is true. But have I missed something? What about Nature Listen? It is the listening area of studying wildlife where young naturalists have the advantage over old folk like me. Years ago I could pick out birds
ANN Elizabeth Hill didn't know if the relationship with her live-in lover would last and so continued to claim benefits as a single parent. Blackburn magistrates heard that hedging her bets had led to Hill being overpaid by £1,496 in income support for
YOUR report (LET, July 27) tells of the abundance of bird life on the moors around Lancashire. Hard-working parent birds have hatched their babies and fed them well, rearing healthy, strong young fledglings to soar and fly in happy delight on the warm
IAM in total agreement with Mr F Crompton's remarks (Letters, July 24) about Blacksnape playground. I think more than a lick of paint is needed. In fact, it is in a worse state now than when I played there as a child. At least then there were two roundabouts
REGARDING recent letters pointing out the claim of the National Front and British National Party to freedom of speech, in the 1930s Hitler's supporters in Germany also claimed the same right. And with the false propaganda of the National Front and BNP
POLICE say they are winning the war against car thieves -- thanks to a pioneering computer system. The Lancashire force became the first in the country to secure a contract to test the Automatic Number Plate Recognition System (ANPR). The device, fitted
ATHERTON Town have been gifted progression to the quarter-finals of this years' Goldline Trophy, after their game with Eagley was awarded to them by default. Due to a breaking of the tournament regulations, Eagley were forced to concede the tie which
TWO-TONE youngsters turned up at Le Monde Petit Nursery in Burnley and although they were in black and white they had a colourful day! As part of the summer madness programme at the nursery a variety of fun activities have been held including a pirate
VISITORS from the Czech Republic will be checking into Cliviger on Saturday at a start of a one-week holiday in the area. The 23-strong group will be guests of members of the village's Mount Zion Independent Methodist Chapel and, for many, it will be
A "SECRET" gem of a garden in Padiham is to be opened to the public for the first time. Cora Gallagher is inviting members of the public to "hop along" to her garden, which has a large population of frogs, in Rossall Close. Money raised from the event
A NELSON Royal Military Policeman was on the Bucharest beat to help 400 other soldiers in a two-week exercise in Romania. Corporal Chris Bell, 33, who grew up in Nelson was called to help the Romanian Military Police to use his experience to help detract
PARISH church members in Colne were dismayed to hear that Rector Reverend Peter Mott and his wife Anne were leaving town. But Mr Mott, who has led the historic church for the past nine years, says that despite this he believes it is time to move on. And
SEVEN-year-old Simon D'John had an "eel of a tale" to tell his friends when he returned to school after a whopping fishing trip. The tiny angler, of Charter Street, Accrington, was fishing in the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Infirmary locks, Blackburn
TWO stores are discussing with police the possibility of offering a reward for the capture of the arsonist who started a fire which caused millions of pounds of damage. Officials from Netto and CBS mail order, whose Accrington branches are on the affected
PEOPLE are being urged to do more voluntary work if they want to get on in their job after a survey revealed that companies prefer employees who help others. Research carried out on behalf of the national charity TimeBank by recruitment specialist Reed
AN 11-year-old boy has suffered serious spinal injuries after cheating death for the second time in three months. Christopher Williamson, of Tyldesley, is lucky to be alive after falling 25 feet through the roof of a disused garage on to a concrete floor
LAST week's look back at the old Leigh market brought back floods of memories for readers -- from as far away as the USA. Brian Johnson, of Lombard, Illinois, recalls the wizardry of Fish Lil, and former Leigh shopkeeper Kath Lisle and the time of her
INNOVATIVE reading schemes to encourage youngsters to become bookworms are set to be launched in Lancashire. Nearly £200,000 has been awarded to Lancashire County Council's library service from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Wolfson
THE Burnley fans certainly got their money's worth at Turf Moor last night. Okay, there was no Paul Gascoigne in the Everton side despite speculation that he would get a run-out at some stage. But it didn't matter to the Clarets fans who got to see two
RYAN Driver was called in from the cold by Lancashire at Colwyn Bay today. The 22-year-old opener, who arrived at Old Trafford from Worcestershire during the winter, had been left out of the last seven Championship matches, and hasn't played for the first
READ captain Nick Marsh reckons Saturday's shock defeat at the hands of Oswaldtwistle Immanuel has focused the player's minds on the task ahead. Strugglers Immanuel, who lie second-from-bottom of the Jennings Ribblesdale League, beat the league leaders
SETTLE 75 READ 76-2 Settle 0 pts Read 7 pts SETTLE K Hornby b Raza ... 13 P Taylor c Whalley b Raza ... 14 Hornby c Swarbrick b Ahmed ... 1 R Hill b Raza ... 10 M Verden b Ahmed ... 0 T Canaway c Ahmed b Raza ... 15 P Humphries b Raza ... 0 J Hughes c
ATHERTON CC got back on to the Redmayne Bentley Bolton Association Championship trail on Saturday, with a victory against Lostock in a low scoring game at Lostock Lane. Due to the unavailability of Steve Walsh, the Atherton side was skippered by Paul
TURKISH midfield ace Tugay Kerimoglu today revealed he ditched Rangers for Rovers because he believes he can win things under new boss Graeme Souness. The 30-year-old playmaker, pictured, checked into Brockhall yesterday for the first time since he completed
EAST Lancashire's small traders whose annual turnover has remained just below £15,000 for two years are facing a a tax purge according to chartered accountants. Individuals who declared earnings of between £14,000 and £14,999 in consecutive years are
BURY chairman Terry Robinson has sent a message of sympathy to his manager and players, writes STEVE CANAVAN. Robinson's move follows comments by Bury boss Andy Preece who spoke about his frustration at not knowing when the long-awaited takeover of the
SHOPPERS are urged to nominate a deserving child who makes a difference to the community. Asda, in Leigh, is asking customers to get their thinking caps on as part of their Stand up for Kids campaign. Nominations can be made at the Atherleigh Way store
THE CONTROVERSIAL £20,000 skatepark at Gillibrand Mill, Darwen, is on course to open in late August. Workmen are currently putting the finishing touches to the ramps and jumps in the 9,000 sq ft facility on Hollins Grove Street. When plans were announced
ARSONISTS struck at a primary school in Hindley and set fire to the roof and doorway, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage. The firebugs broke into All Saints Primary School in Chapel Fields Lane and set the boiler house door and a window frame
VANDALS attacked four cars parked on Blackburn Road, Haslingden, causing nearly £1,000 worth of damage. The incidents happened overnight Saturday/Sunday when the vehicles were sprayed with yellow paint. Targeted were an R-registered blue Ford Escort,
DRIBBLING, heading and tackling are footballing skills being taught to youngsters aged from eight to 14 at Haslingden Sports Centre. The footballing fun week is organised by coach Rob Kennedy who said it was used by local clubs as an opportunity to spot
HISTORIC Lea Bank School in Waterfoot is being suggested as a possible site for a new town hall for Rossendale. The Hurstwood Group has submitted a project for a luxury housing development but planning chairman Coun Chris Wadsworth has suggested it could
RAWTENSTALL Market Action Group has disbanded following the retirement of founder chairman Joan Whiteley. Joan, who swapped places with her daughter Hazel Bates after 21 years running the haberdashery stall, retired on Saturday. She said: "It was a very
A LEIGH MEP has helped to secure the introduction of strict controls on some of the world's most dangerous chemicals. Chris Davies, who serves on the environment committee in the European Parliament, acted as a bridge between MEPs and environment ministers
VIGILANCE is being encouraged to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease on the Fylde coast after blanket bans on public rights of way were revoked. Disinfectant mats are still in use at Blackpool Zoo and visitors are being asked where they are from
TWO men have been arrested following a robbery at an ex-servicemen's club in St Annes this week where the club steward was threatened with a handgun. The two men entered the club in Alexander Road at 10.05am on Monday and demanded the takings from the
AN elderly Blackpool lady was shell-shocked when she discovered two treasured pets had been stolen. The 83-year-old woman kept two tortoises in the garden of her home in Rossett Avenue, Mereside. One was large -- more than 20 inches in diameter -- and
A POLICE road-safety crackdown has revealed the shocking truth about the state of many Blackpool-bound tourist buses and coaches. In total 36 vehicles were intercepted and checked en route to the resort. Defects and other offences were discovered on 30
WARD boundaries in the Wyre and Fylde boroughs will change as part of a Government shake-up of electoral arrangements. The Borough of Fylde will lose one of its 22 wards and all but three of the existing boundaries have been altered. Two extra councillors
A GOOD Samaritan was knocked to the floor and kicked in the head when he went to the aid of a woman involved in an angry exchange with a man in a Bispham street. The 21-year-old student was walking by the Conservative Club on Red Bank Road when he saw
MARINE experts at Blackpool Sea Life Centre are warning home aquarists about the pitfalls of keeping exotic fish as pets after two sick seahorses were seized in the town. The practical advice comes amid celebrations for the recent birth of more than 40
A LOGGING device which feeds information from water mains direct to engineers' mobile phones is the latest weapon to beat leaks in Lancashire. Engineers will be able to call the Cello logger and be told of any unexpected large increases in the flow of
PRETTY Ella Wright strutted her stuff on the catwalk when she scooped a prestigious glamour award for the third time. Five-year-old Ella, of Herron Close, Blackburn, stepped into the shoes of a top supermodel after she was awarded the Best Dressed Young
DRUG addict Dean Roberts was found dead, kneeling on the floor in a shed, after taking a cocktail of heroin and temazepam. An inquest heard that his former girlfriend, who had given him her prescribed temazepam to look after, found "Deano" in the shed
POLICE are warning coach companies in East Lancashire to make sure vehicles are safe to be on the roads, after an 'alarming' 80 per cent of buses and coaches failed safety checks during a clampdown. Buses and coaches travelling to Blackpool along the
HEALTH watchdogs are to meet hospital bosses after figures today showed that older people are waiting almost an hour longer in casualty departments than younger people. A nationwide snapshot of 200 hospital accident and emergency units showed a big disparity
A NEW police radio system pioneered in Lancashire is "unlikely" to pose a health risk to officers, a report reveals. The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) report said no health hazard from the digital TETRA radio system had been identified
A SOLICITORS could be landed with a bill of more than £30,000 after a court hearing ruled they had used the wrong words in a case over the height of a new school building. The London Appeal Court found Preston-based Banks Wilson liable for damages for
TRADING Standards chiefs today warned they would not tolerate counterfeit good being sold after a man was prosecuted for selling fake CDs. Wayne Kenneth Grunshaw, of Sunny Bank Road, Blackburn, was fined £250 and ordered to pay £225 towards costs after
LEIGH RMI showed their Conference class as they ran out 2-1 winners over UniBond new boys Rossendale United. Dale's Jody Banim fired a shot just wide in the early stages before Leigh took the lead when former Wigan player Tony Black, from Burnley, was
LEE CARTWRIGHT must be one of the world's quietest footballers -- but he'll have his moment tonight when Preston take on Premier side Middlesbrough as part of his testimonial year, writes DANY ROBSON. The Rossendale lad has spent 12 years at Deepdale
Fixtures for 2001/2 AUGUST 18 Clitheroe v Kidsgrove Ath Winsford Utd v Great Harwood Town 20 Great Harwood Town v Atherton Colls 21 Atherton LR v Clitheroe Ramsbottom v Fleetwood Freeport 25 Atherton LR v Ramsbottom Utd 28 Clitheroe v Mossley Ramsbottom
