Archive

  • In mourning for Alfie the dog

    CHILDREN in need? The mindless jobs who terrorised my treasured pet dog and life companion while drunk on alcopops need locking up and the keys throwing away. While we were out on our evening walk the drunken jobs spat at and kicked Alfie, who panicked

  • Paradise found in island village

    PARADISE found! No papers, no television, no Radio Lancashire, so no Jim Bowen and Sally Naden. A place where the sun shines from morning to night, where pensioners can stop taking a lot of their tablets and walk for miles without getting tired. A place

  • Book swelling disaster fund

    I WOULD like to thank all the people whose subscriptions helped to get in print the publication of 'Happy Valley No More,' the history of the Hapton Valley Colliery. All the proceeds are going direct to the Hapton Valley Colliery Disaster Fund to help

  • Patient quizzed after hospital fire

    A PSYCHIATRIC patient was questioned by police after a fire at Fairfield General Hospital. The elderly man, who is resident in the Pennine House secure unit, was arrested in connection with the blaze during the early hours of Saturday (Nov 24). A bed

  • Robin is a sizzling success

    BUTCHER Robin Skinner served up an award-winning dish to scoop a top award at a North West competition. Mr Skinner, who is the proprietor of Greenmount Butchers, won gold for his pork and leek sausages at the regional contest held by the Meat and Livestock

  • £22 theft from OAP

    A MAN is wanted in connection with the theft of cash from a Prestwich pensioner on Friday evening (Nov 23). He struck at 8.15pm when he called at the flat in the Hilton Lane area. He asked the 68-year-old woman if he could look at a telephone directory

  • Gateway for volunteers

    BURY Gateway Club is on the hunt for volunteers and is staging an open night to demonstrate how they help people with learning disabilities. The club, which meets at the Mosses Centre in Cecil Street, is holding the event this Friday (Nov 30). Potential

  • Bell sounds a warning

    ACADEMY starlet Andy Bell warmed up for next week's FA Youth Cup clash against Chelsea with a timely brace for the Under 19s at the weekend. Bell looks set to spearhead Rovers' attack alongside Jon Walters against the Blues. And his two goals in Saturday's

  • County star hoping for deal

    STOCKPORT striker Shefki Kuqi could become a Blackburn player by the end of this week after he swooped into Brockhall yesterday for a couple of days of training. Ewood chief Graeme Souness has been granted special permission by County to have a look at

  • Youth's 'ferocious onslaught' on police

    A TEENAGER has been sentenced to 21 months youth custody for his part in the mid-summer disorder in Burnley. Joseph Brogan, 19, had been committed to Preston Crown court for sentence after pleading guilty to violent disorder on June 24. A number of other

  • Road safety plea as injury figures soar

    PARENTS are being urged to drive home the road safety message to their children following a massive increase in road accident casualties in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale areas. Officers from Pennine Division's road policing unit are also warning drivers

  • Thugs wreak havoc in tranquil village

    A PICTURESQUE village is being ruined by tearaway teenagers, according to a Burnley councillor. Worsthorne is not usually associated with gangs of unruly youths but a string of incidents this year has worried Burnley councillor and chairman of the parish

  • Mooro deserves the fans' backing

    IT'S been going on for a number of weeks now. A few voices of dissent in the stands. The occasional caller on the local radio phone-in. You can hardly call it a clamour at the moment, yet nevertheless there is a growing body of opinion which believes

  • Elvis calling

    THE West End hit Cooking With Elvis brought cheers and tears to the full house at The Lowry. The action is set in the North East and based around food, sex and a tortoise with a sticky fate. Written by Lee Hall, whose work also includes Billy Elliot,

  • Ten years ago

    A FORK lift truck driver escaped without a scratch when a factory roof caved in on his truck. Shaun Hayes was unloading paper reels at Zen Wallcoverings, Darwen, when the truck crashed into the cast iron support column.

  • Five years ago

    HALIMA Patel had every reason to grin when she was nominated for Britain's Brightest Smile competition. The mother-of-two from Blackburn beat off 700 entrants across the county to go into the final. The top prize was for a five star weekend in London.

  • Council team gives value for money

    HYNDBURN Council's development control service has been praised by government inspectors for doing a good job -- but they expressed concern that it may not improve. The Best Value inspection team gave the service two stars out of a possible three because

  • Plane spotter in touch with family

    A MAN who was arrested in Greece after being accused of spying has finally made contact with his family in East Lancashire for the first time since being apprehended. Andrew Jenkins, who lives in York, told his father that he was having to sleep on a

  • Fight to save little girl's rooftop haven

    A YOUNGSTER with cerebral palsy today pleaded with council chiefs not to rip up her special rooftop garden after it said it breached planning rules. Little Millie Landon has been playing in the unique fenced garden, which sits on top of a garage at her

  • At last foot and mouth all-clear

    LANCASHIRE has been given the all-clear from foot and mouth after not having a single case for almost five months, since the last on June 28. The achievement means animal movements under licence will be able to start again to other parts of the country

  • Facing up to the City test

    IF the FA Cup is the dream prize for senior players, there is no doubt about which trophy quickens the pulse in the youth ranks. The AXA FA Youth Cup is the top honour for young players across the country and on Sunday afternoon the Clarets starlets take

  • Off to a flyer

    RICHARD JOHNSON made a stunning England debut as the tourists obliterated India A's top order at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium. The Somerset seamer, omitted from the first two matches on tour, struck twice in his opening over of the day and again in his

  • In memory of Ian

    BLACKBURN brewers Daniel Thwaites helped celebrate their new link-up with Oswaldtwistle Conservative Club by backing a charity concert. The show, in memory of the club's late president Ian Hargreaves was in aid of the Macmillan Nurses. Club treasurer

  • Ours is a double (holiday)!

    STAFF at a village pub toasted their luck with the Irish after winning a mystery diner competition for the second successive year. The Ram Inn, Cliviger, was assessed and rated every month since last September on the quality of its service and finished

  • Angry residents want action on yobs

    DEMANDS are mounting for swift action against tearaway teenagers in Brandlesholme amid fears that angry residents might take matters into their own hands. Up to 60 youths have been causing chaos in the Woodhill Road area, with reports of assaults on motorists

  • Greek no-go for Nik

    IN-FORM Clarets keeper Nik Michopoulos is looking to record a hat-trick of clean sheets for the first time in Burnley's goal this weekend. But it looks like his hopes of a recall to the international squad have been dashed for the time being at least.

  • Men spotted stealing from cars

    DARWEN Police are looking for two men who tried to take property from one car on Redearth Road and took a radio cassette from another car parked on the same road. The theft happened between 1am and 2.45am on Saturday. One of the men is described as being

  • Theatre's zoo fun proves a hit with children

    A ZOO and all its animals were brought to life for visitors young and old who called into a Waterfoot theatre. More than a 100 people enjoyed a visit to the Horse and Bamboo's latest Guided Imagery production when the doors of The Magnificent Mountain

  • Prince's congratulations at MBE service

    BLACKBURN man Brian Holliday found himself being personally congratulated for the quality of his firm's furniture by Prince Charles when he collected his MBE award. The Prince was presenting Brian, from Brecon Road, Blackburn, with his MBE, which he won

  • 'Mother Church' marking hundred years

    ONE of Blackburn's most historic churches is celebrating its 100th anniversary next month. St Alban's on Lark Hill is the latest in a long line of Catholic churches to have stood on the ancient site and is thought of by many as the Catholic 'Mother Church

  • Carers blazing a trail in social work

    CANDIDATES from Blackburn and Darwen are leading the way when it comes to the latest social care training. A group of 28 foster carers and residential social workers have successfully completed their NVQ Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People

  • Event for injured players

    ROSSENDALE UNITED are staging a fund-raiser for injured players Steve Bird and John Borland. Bird has been unable to work since suffering a long-term injury while playing for Dale. And former Burnley pro Borland has decided to quit the game after failing

  • Ex-Reds duo set to face old club

    FORMER Accrington Stanley duo Matt Houldsworth and Paul Lynch will be hoping to put one over on their old side tonight. The Rossendale United pair should turn out for Jim McCluskie's UniBond First Division newcomers against their Premier League rivals

  • Show a little compassion

    JUST as the rules say, the Landon family should have applied for planning permission for the rooftop garden they created on top of the garage behind their home and fish and chip shop in East Lancashire. But when they belatedly did, councillors refused

  • Raffle prizes can be collected

    THE Friends of Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, would like to thank everyone who bought tickets and gave prizes for their recent raffle at the hospital, helping us to raise £620. Winners, who have been contacted by telephone, can collect their prizes

  • Help in tracing resting place

    IWAS most interested to read the article (LET, November 1) concerning Mrs Georgene Holmes' search for the grave of her uncle, Private George Jones, who died in North Africa in 1943. Private Jones is buried in a cemetery in Tunisia cared for by the Commonwealth

  • People have a right to care choice

    FOLLOWING the comments of the Blackburn with Darwen Care Homes Group (Letters, November 12), I can confirm two incidents that have happened at Hollymount Nursing Home. One lady came to us for two weeks respite after a stay in hospital following a fall

  • Doddy on song at lights switch on - again!

    COMEDIAN and entertainer Ken Dodd returned to Leigh last night to turn on the town's Christmas lights -- for the fourth successive year. The star entertained the crowds with a mass sing-a-long as the lights were switched on outside the town hall. Scouser

  • Clever move by pupils

    CHILDREN at a Whitefield primary school certainly didn't have to scratch their heads to come up with a winning fund-raising formula. For thanks to sponsored puzzles and quiz sheets, the pupils at Mersey Drive CP school have raised an impressive £600 for

  • More are hit by food bug

    THE number of people infected with the E.Coli virus in an outbreak in the Eccleston area has risen again overnight by four more to ten. But the number in hospital following the outbreak has dropped to 13, as three were discharged overnight. Health officials

  • Triple jobs shock

    INDUSTRY in East Lancashire suffered a triple blow today as Airtours and BAe Systems announced huge job losses in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks. Worst hit was BAe Samlesbury where 140 workers were told their jobs are to be axed as part of

  • Named and shamed

    A JEWISH charity which operates in Bury, Whitefield and Prestwich has been "named and shamed". The Charity Commission has listed the Salford-based Jewish High School for Girls as one of five large charities which have "persistently failed" to provide

  • Getting high in Peru!

    TWO Bury adventurers who followed in the footsteps of the Incas during a gruelling five-day trek in Peru are back home. And thanks to their efforts, Mrs Eileen Taylor and her friend Mrs Gina Melling raised almost £6,000 for The Children's Hospitals Appeal

  • Pay out more - Short

    BLACKBURN defender Craig Short today called on his fellow professionals to pay more in subscription fees to the PFA in a bid to avert the threat of potential strike action in the future. Short admitted he breathed a sigh of relief last week when industrial

  • BNP man quits seeking votes

    BRITISH National Party candidate Jim Cowell has stopped canvassing for support at Thursday's council by-election in Burnley after becoming disillusioned with the party. Mr Cowell, who joined the BNP only a few months ago, said he would reconsider his

  • Luxury homes plan for brewery site

    LAND on the site of the Clough Springs Brewery, in Barrowford, also known as the The Vinegar Works, could be transformed in to a luxury housing development if planning permission is granted by councillors. The plans, submitted by Nationwide Special Projects

  • Music at the Mayor's 'Bit of a Do'

    ELDERLY and disabled people in Pendle were treated to a feast of fun and good food during the first day of this year's Bit of a Do event at Colne Municipal Hall. International singing star Mitchell Armstrong performed an old-time music revue and was joined

  • Yob gangs causing town centre havoc

    GANGS of badly-behaved children, some as young as four, are creating problems in an area of Colne, stealing, damaging property and abusing residents. Ailsa Pate, who lives in Hall Street, is urging anyone on the receiving end of such actions to contact

  • Strike end saves us from shoppiing

    ANOTHER decent result on Saturday. As I predicted last week we were comfortably up to the task of matching another of the so-called "big clubs" in grinding out another richly deserved point. There was little to commend the game to the neutral. Helped

  • Banging the drum for charity

    A MUSICAL workshop takes place in the Ribble Valley next week thanks to a £5,000 grant from the national Awards for All scheme. Musical Workshops Lancashire will hold a session for brass and percussion musicians at Bowland High School, Grindleton, on

  • Textile gallery set to open its doors

    A NEW textile gallery displaying the work of local artists is to be unveiled at Clitheroe's Bowdon Books. Owners Gordon and Gillian Hill have specialised in secondhand books on the textile arts since 1986, but it was Gillian's work as a feltmaker and

  • Plan under way to ease Forest visits

    PILOT studies are under way to develop road and walking networks for both local people and visitors to the Forest of Bowland. The studies, commissioned by Lancashire County Council, are being undertaken by JMP Consultants and Transport for Leisure (TFL

  • Young guns crash out of Cup

    CLARETS youngsters were given a footballing lesson by Tranmere at Turf Moor last night as they crashed out of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup. The margin of 5-0 could have been greater if it had not been for some fine stops by keeper James Salisbury who time

  • Greek no-go for Nik

    IN-FORM Clarets keeper Nik Michopoulos is looking to record a hat-trick of clean sheets for the first time in Burnley's goal this weekend. But it looks like his hopes of a recall to the international squad have been dashed for the time being at least.

  • Spirit of Christmas presents. . .

    A SPECIAL Christmas treat is to be set up in Accrington's The Duke of Wellington with the aim of helping underprivileged youngsters. Newark Street Garage has donated a Christmas tree to be put in the Abbey Street pub with the hope of putting some smiles

  • Doctor quizzed over painkiller drug doses

    A DOCTOR working at Bury General Hospital disappeared with huge doses of a powerful addictive painkiller he had demanded from a hospital pharmacy, a disciplinary hearing was told yesterday (Mon Nov 26). A nurse joked that Dr Sumit Mukherjee (34), must

  • County star hoping for deal

    STOCKPORT striker Shefki Kuqi could become a Blackburn player by the end of this week after he swooped into Brockhall yesterday for a couple of days of training. Ewood chief Graeme Souness has been granted special permission by County to have a look at

  • The simple tasks that a fella finds impossible!

    AT work, women are forever trying to keep up with men - in status, earnings, and now at the bar at lunch time. Female workers are trying to keep up with their male colleagues drink for drink, says new research. And the habit has spilled over into their

  • Skipper's injury adds to Shakers' woes

    BURY skipper Martyn Forrest has played his last game this year after breaking his foot in Saturday's win at Colchester. And, just to make matters worse, Greek defender George Syros is also out for six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the same

  • Get involved with annual gala

    ANYONE who would like to be involved with Darwen Gala is invited to the Gala Committee's AGM on Thursday. Past and present committee members are welcome along with anyone else who feels they would like to lend a hand. The meeting takes place at the Ineos

  • Help with drugs problems

    A DRUG Awareness Day is to be held in Darwen on Saturday. Darwen Central and Sudell Community Association have joined forces with Twin Valley Homes to put on the event at Darwen Community Centre. The day is aimed at people who have problems or know someone

  • Youth groups launch festive post idea

    A SPECIAL Christmas post service to help raise cash for Darwen's youth groups is once again up and running in the Darwen, Hoddlesden and Lower Darwen area this Christmas. Last year the St Joseph's Scout group and the Cellar Dwellers Venture Scout and

  • It's not blooming good enough!

    A DARWEN florist is calling for more bobbies on the beat and says crime in the town has never been so bad. Kathleen Reece has run Hodkinsons Florist on Duckworth Street for the past 30 years and says during the past two months her shop has been subjected

  • Drunken man left damage trail and butted PC

    AN ex-convict who butted a police officer and left a trail of damage on a drunken night out, escaped jail. Burnley magistrates heard Kenneth Philip Kelsall, 36, demolished a door frame of a Waterfoot taxi office, and abused one of the workers who ran

  • Homes plan green light despite petition

    COUNCILLORS are set to approve plans for 52 new homes in Bacup despite six letters of objection and a 104-name petition. The proposal is for 48 bungalows and other dwellings off Windermere Avenue and Pendle Avenue. The development is bounded by Cowtoot

  • Night with ex sparks a violent argument

    A MAN who attacked his girlfriend after she threw his clothes from a bedroom window has been ordered to attend a domestic violence programme. She was angry because he had confessed to spending the previous night with an ex-girlfriend, magistrates at Bury

  • Getting cash in place to play game

    PLANS for a new play area in Victoria Park, Haslingden, have been prepared and fund-raising for the scheme is about to start. The Friends of Victoria Park have been working closely with Groundwork Rossendale to develop ideas for improvements to the park

  • Tots are popping pills to stop rot

    THREE and four-year-olds across East Lancashire are being given fluoride tablets in an effort to reduce the number of youngsters with tooth decay. The scheme, which has been introduced by both Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS trust and Burnley

  • Traveller teddy's trip to Tahiti!

    CLASS Two mascot Angus has packed the bear necessities of a globetrotter's life into his rucksack -- and taken off for Tahiti. It sounds like quite a trip for a tiny teddy, but Angus is a seasoned long-haul traveller. And there's no chance he'll get lost

  • Stars sign for Mick's fund raiser

    WHEN TV comedy star James Dreyfus offered to do all he could to help the adult leukaemia fund at Manchester's Christie Hospital, fundraiser and bone marrow transplant patient Mick Baines though it too good an opportunity to miss. So Mick and wife Julia

  • Greenpeace joins waste-burning row

    GREENPEACE today joined the chorus of disapproval over Lancashire County Council's plans to develop a £300million waste incinerator in the county. Despite claiming the establishment incinerator was not a foregone conclusion, county councillors have agreed

  • Norton at home for Borough

    BACUP BOROUGH face Norton United at home in the North West Counties League Second Division tonight. Manager Brent Peters will be looking for his side to bounce back from conceding two late goals in Saturday's derby against Nelson, which they drew 2-2.

  • £10 offer to buy lodge

    WILDLIFE campaigners have made a cheeky £10 bid to buy a wildlife haven at the centre of a planning dispute. They made their offer for Bury's Barracks Lodge after learning that the owners, Bolton-based Stately Developments, had ceased trading. Permission