A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Schools Carols, Blackburn Cathedral, 1pm. St Peter's, Darwen. Colne Dramatic Society present Caramba's Revenge, a black comedy by William Norfolk, Little Theatre, River
UNTIL today it was difficult to think of any more exasperation which could be heaped on people who have to use Blackburn railway station. First they had to wait an extra year while hold-ups dogged the schedule for the £5million redevelopment scheme and
THREE men who gave a drinking companion "a good beating" have each been jailed for 14 months. Victim Barry Robinson was accused of "grassing up" one of the trio and ended up being punched and kicked. When the three appeared for sentence at Preston Crown
A 27-YEAR-OLD mum spent five days in hospital after being dragged from a taxi by her hair and hit against a wall by her partner. Blackburn magistrates heard that Tracey Baldwin "slid down the wall" after being rammed against it by Paul Goodwin who was
SO, following years of expensive 'study' and numerous trips to Australia by lots of senior officers, the police are to import something called 'zero tolerance' traffic control measures from that country. Am I alone in noticing the irony of this action
YOUR reporter Clive Lawrence, who reported on Paul Weller's concert at King George's Hall on Friday night, seems to have missed the finale. At the end of Weller's third encore he played an old Jam B side 'The Butterfly Collector,' which, with a raised
AS a professional organisation representing private landlords, we in turn are outraged at the standards set by some members of the local community and certain owners of properties. The total lack of thought by a few unthinking anti-social people should
EMERGENCY services have rushed to close off the junction 4 slip road of the M65 after a dangerous gas leak was found. Blackburn Road was closed to traffic from the Junction of Holins Road towards Darwen causing traffic to build up around the area. Around
WIGAN boss Paul Jewell is still hoping to land Rovers defender Jeff Kenna on a permanent deal in the next couple of days -- even though he is currently weighing up a number of other options. The Rovers left-back spent a month on loan at the JJB Stadium
I DO wish Cllr Airey would stop boasting about the amount of overnight stays that will be created in the district in 2002. Along with his colleagues on the regeneration board he has already managed to get rid of about 15,000 bed nights in Morecambe by
A MAN was beaten up by two teenagers for just £5 as he walked along a canal path in Lancaster. The 31 year old was walking under a metal footbridge adjacent to Aldcliffe Road when the first youth, who had been on the bridge, kicked him. The pair struck
MORECAMBE'S MP Geraldine Smith was given a behind the scenes look at the new security arrangements during a visit to Heysham power stations last week. The MP was taken on a two hour tour of Heysham 2 and saw at first hand many of the new arrangements
PLANS which could see Lancashire county council take over the running of Lancaster's museums are to be discussed next week. Councillors will consider whether to go ahead with talks which would see the maritime and city museums run by the same organisation
LOCAL health chiefs are to demand more cash from the Government as they bid to ease a large financial shortfall. Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust is expected to be £2.4 million in the red at the end of the financial year while Morecambe Bay Hospitals
WE'VE all seen the TV programme - ordinary people designing and building their own dream homes - but it could become a reality for some people here in Lancaster. A new group is being set up this Saturday, December 8, to encourage and support people who
POLICE are calling on the Ryelands community to help them catch a gang of dangerous thugs who beat up an innocent man in his own kitchen. Police say the men behind the motiveless assault are still at large and a danger to people in the area. The 43 year
A RECORD-breaking appeal at a Burnley hospice has received a glowing reception. Pendleside Hospice will light up for all the world to see this weekend when 2,200 sponsored bulbs are switched on. The Light Up A Life appeal gives people the chance to remember
THIS choir, who performed on Disney's classic 'The Lion King', came into a rain soaked Manchester evening to bring early Christmas cheer in the form of carols old and new. They were billed as a capella singers, which unfortunately they are not. Some of
A DEVASTATED farmer lost £4,000 worth of Christmas turkeys when thieves raided his allotment shed. The 120 birds, the entire stock of Ralph Rushton, of Baxenden, had been fed on special organic food and were all ready for the festive market.
SPEEDING thieves roared through a garage window when they took a 150mph racing car. The £35,000 Ford Cosworth was part of a display at Craven Garage, Darwen, but only scorch marks were left on the carpet after the theft. Raiders moved another vehicle
POLICE are warning people to be on their guard after bogus carers stole from a seriously ill man and his wife. The couple, both 73, who have not been named, were at their house in Brown Birks Road, Huncoat, at about 4.40pm on Tuesday when the three bogus
AS a nurse, it encourages me to see people in the public sector getting paid what they deserve. It warmed my heart, therefore, to pick up your paper last week to discover that Coun Cllr Dr Ruth Henig is to collect expenses of more than £30,000 a year
IN reply to Hilton Dawson's latest change of mind. I was pleased to see that Geraldine Smith repudiated the assertion by Dawson that she has settled for the Northern route to the M6 when in fact she hadn't and is still fighting for the Western route.
I WOULD like to thank Coun Cllr Jonathan Sear and various other members of the Green Party who took the time to write to the Citizen last week (29 November 2001). I can assure all those who were kind enough to tell me to stop writing to the Citizen letters
IN THE SAME newspaper that reports that a teenager is found handling stolen goods, another snatches an old lady's handbag from her hand, three 14-year-old girl children stab (yes, with a knife) another 14-year-old girl child, pensioners in Shakespeare
FOURTEEN trees at Clitheroe castle have been saved from the chop after council leaders bowed to pressure over their controversial felling policy. But a protesters group celebrating the change of heart today reinforced its criticism of the authority for
IT IS the practice of many local newspapers to run a 'children's corner' where tiny tots can write to 'Uncle Pete' or some such person. May I respectfully suggest that it would be in the interest of both yourself and your readers were you to adopt such
EACH week there are numerous letters sent to the editors of our local newspapers, about various subjects, and I read with interest the views and concerns of the writer. I'd like to address a few of the issues that have been raised recently. The Lancaster
ARE you descended from royalty? Do you have a famous great grandmother or a notorious nephew? Find out by tracing your ancestry online. Your first stop could be the Public Record Office which preserves the records of central government and the courts
LANCASTER City have a painful reminder of their FA cup misfortune on Saturday, when they will be able to take a day off instead of facing Darlington. However, they get back into action next Tuesday night when the Dolly Blues take on old rivals Bamber
LAST weekend's Grizedale Stages sponsored by Hargreaves Garages saw John Thompson/Mal Capstick take the title by a minute and 23 seconds from David Shuttleworth and Steve Perie but, this gave them enough of a margin to take the Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club
SATURDAY'S world cup draw and its aftermath raise three important questions in advance of next year's football festival; Firstly, why do sporting organisers insist on turning their big events into a bizarre cultural jamboree? People who watch these things
BRETT Ormerod has said he will be fit and is ready to be called up should Southampton boss Gordon Strachan include him in this weekend's squad. Ormerod said: "It is just sinking in. All I can do is try my best, give 100 per cent and hopefully it will
A MISSED penalty by Lennie Johnrose and a couple of mistakes by teenage keeper James Salisbury sent the Clarets reserves to their first defeat under manager Ronnie Jepson. Goals late in each half ensured victory for the Millers who climbed above Burnley
WORKERS at electronics giant Philips have become the latest victims of the wave of redundancies sweeping across East Lancashire -- taking local job losses to more than 900 in two weeks. Seventy-six workers at the Blackburn site will find out if they have
ENGLAND were beaten by 10 wickets inside four days after another batting collapse in the first Test in Mohali. As with the first innings, the spin duo of Anil Kumble, who took five wickets in an innings for the 17th time in Tests, and Harbhajan Singh
THE Bosch Power Team will appear at Focus Do IT All in Morecambe throughout December to demonstrate a variety of popular DIY tasks. They will show the public how to tackle DIY jobs that are considered to be difficult including cutting laminate flooring
A LANCASHIRE farmer hit by the foot and mouth crisis has received more than £1.2 million in compensation, it has been revealed. There are 343 farmers in Lancashire who have received payments ranging from just £10 to over a million to reimburse them for
A LOCAL supermarket has called on shoppers to help keep Lancashire's traditions alive. Booths say they are stocking specially made-in-Lancashire products to help maintain the country's traditions. Local delicacies include Les Salisbury's renowned 'Morecambe
TWO weeks after his disappearance, there is still no sign of a Lancaster University student who went missing on his 20th birthday. Police have now been searching for 5ft tall English and history student Richard Preece for a little over a week. His mobile
INFORMATION on domestic violence is to be a new addition to a series of information kiosks in Lancaster. The LINKS (Lancashire information network kiosk services) offers information at touch screen kiosks across the county. Det Insp Joyce Green, domestic
LANCASTER firm Recognition Express has been named the best supplier for Consignia, formerly the Post Office. The firm, which makes name badges for staff, beat more than 300 other companies to the 'supplier of the year' title. Consignia chief executive
A LOCAL councillor has called on the local authority to do more to ease traffic speeds and congestion in residential areas. Cllr Ian Barker, who represents Bulk, says his ward is particularly hard hit by rat runs and dangerous crossings. He said: "First
FIRST Division strugglers Sheffield Wednesday could be ready to join the race for Ewood outcast Marlon Broomes. Sources in Yorkshire today claimed the Owls are planning a swoop for Broomes when his loan spell with Grimsby runs out at the end of the week
PRESTON defender Chris Lucketti is not surprised his former boss is on the brink of the Premiership. But he is determined to help slow the Clarets progress this weekend when the two sides clash at Deepdale in a top of the table Lancashire derby. Lucketti
THE newly-built Central United Reform Church centre in Darwen is hosting a Christmas service for shoppers and members later this month. It marks the first use of the new worship centre for Christmas services since its opening and the elders and members
THE magical world of Harry Potter is soon to be used to promote tourism in the UK -- including the Bury to Rawtenstall East Lancashire Railway. The line is to be included in a new major campaign to promote Britain overseas via the net. Bury Metro's Tourism
A NATIONAL company looking to develop health facilities in Rochdale could be the saviour of Whitworth Pool. At the corporate policy committee, Rossendale councillors decided not to invest £80,000 to enable the facility to be brought up to minimum health
DETAILS of the proposed multi-million pound redevelopment of Rawtenstall town centre including new town hall, bus station and shops have been revealed by the council. Two companies, who have not been named, are working together to formalise plans for
DETAILS of the proposed multi-million pound redevelopment of Rawtenstall town centre, including new town hall, bus station and shops, have been revealed by the council. Two companies, whose identities are being kept confidential, are working together
IT SEEMS some at the police's public relations department are a bit miffed at last week's Citizen front page about the 118 per cent increases in allowances and expenses for members of the local police authority. They've got a bit sniffy that we've made
A ROADBLOCK to trap motorists of unlicensed vehicles has been hailed as a major success. A number of motorists were targeted by police yesterday as they closed the net on road tax dodgers. In total, nearly 50 motorists have had their cars clamped in Blackburn
POLICE are sending a festive greetings card to suspected house-breakers in the run up to Christmas with the seasonal warning: We're after you! A special edition of the Lancashire Constabulary's official Christmas card has been stamped with the Operation
HEALTH bosses at Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust have decided to hang on to a six-figure debt in a bid to highlight a problem faced by GPs across the country. The £675,000 debt that the one-year-old Trust will carry into its second year has been
DARWEN Dashers are inviting you to "Race the Dingles" on Sunday. Members of the cast of Emmerdale are expected to run in the five mile long David Staff Fell Race in memory of the young Dasher. The race starts at the Kiosk in Sunnyhurst Woods at 11:30am
A LOOK at the up-and-coming races around the area. Sat December 8th: SE Lancs Cross Country League (Boggart Hole Clough). Sun December 9th: David Staff Memorial Fell Race 5M/900' (Darwen), Longridge 7M, Calderdale Way Relay, Stockport 10M. Sat December
GEORGE Woodburn was made a life member of Blackburn Harriers when the club held it's Annual Presentation Night at St Mark's Conservative Club. George has been one of the most active competitors ever since he joined back in 1967, and he has maintained
A TRAGIC death or a collapsed house. That is what Colin Adams (38) expects any day. Since moving into his end terrace on Higher Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, last year, turning lorries have smashed into his wall FIVE times! The HGVs hit his garden wall as
TROOPS from Blackburn have marched to victory to win the Territorial Army's annual drill competition. Every year members of the local TA force-- the Lancastrian and Cumbrian volunteers (LCV) -- get together to parade at the Fulwood Barracks in Preston
IN my opinion the calendar being brought out to shock people about speeding is a waste of money. There is only one way to stop speeders and that is an automatic ban. Say six weeks, second offence three months, then six months and so on, until the final
NOW that the Christmas season is upon us, going to town shopping is taking your life in your hands. First, there are the pram and trolley pushers who seem determined to crack the ankles of anybody who gets in their way. Then, there are the shoppers with
ARMED robbers wearing Halloween-style masks threatened staff at a Leigh takeaway with knives and a stun gun. The robbery is one of three believed to have been staged by the same gang over the last two weeks. All the robberies have been carried out at
REGARDING the letter by Neil Yates (Letters, November 23), I feel bound to respond to the suggestions he makes. He referred to the sentence passed by magistrates on a defendant who had broken into a school building and was apprehended by two 'hardly threatening
A LATE night bus service linking Leigh, Tyldesley, Atherton and Manchester has been given a massive boost. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority's weekend bus experiment, originally provided for just two late night number 39 journeys from Manchester
POLICE are warning of a crackdown on under age drinking in town centre nightspots after 10 per cent of clubbers were found to be under 18 during a raid in Leigh. Officers and a sniffer-dog raided Toffs in West Bridgewater Street premises. All under age
CLARETS striker Andy Payton ended a "nightmare 48 hours" by being handcuffed and led half-naked into a police van. A court heard how police who broke into the home of the player's estranged partner found him perched in a cupboard after he abandoned his
LEIGH RMI have been drawn against Unibond Premier Division runners-up Emley in the third round of the FA Trophy. The Yorkshire club, who like Leigh share a ground with an NFP Rugby League team (Wakefield Wildcats), will travel to Hilton Park on January
ROVERS reserves are in action against Manchester United tonight at Morecambe's Christie Park. And manager Alan Murray has named a strong side, which includes John Curtis, Alan Mahon, Damien Johnson and John Filan. Jonathan Walters and Ciaran Donnelly
FIRST Division strugglers Sheffield Wednesday could be ready to join the race for Ewood outcast Marlon Broomes. Sources in Yorkshire today claimed the Owls are planning a swoop for Broomes when his loan spell with Grimsby runs out at the end of the week
A DRUG-addicted shoplifter has been given three months to sort out her habit. Claire McMillan, 19, who had helped herself to children's clothes to the tune of almost £100, from Woolworths, had sentence deferred until next March 6, by Burnley Magistrates
AN OFFENDER wanted on warrant for almost a year has been sent to prison for a total of 16 weeks. Burnley Magistrates heard how Michael Harry Noone, 22, knew the court had no option but to send him to jail after getting behind the wheel for the fourth
SHOPPERS in Burnley are being urged to seek out the "lobby bobby". The new community beat officer in Daneshouse and Stoneyholme PC Nic Fisher is urging shoppers to come and see him at the Asda store, Princess Way, on Friday, December 14. He will be holding
PLANS for a public park on the site of the railway which used to serve Padiham power station are being held up. Councillors were told progress was being hampered by a lack of response from Railtrack who still own the line. Burnley Council has made £15,000
EMPTY and abandoned homes in Burnley needed to be demolished, Housing Minister Lord Falconer said today on a visit to the town. Lord Falconer was shown around the areas at the centre of the racial disturbances in June. Speaking in the Duke Bar area close
A MAN walked into a telephone kiosk being used by a 15-year-old girl and performed an indecent act while just inches away from her. The same man had also exposed himself to another girl in the Morecambe area on Sunday evening. In the first incident, at
TIME will stand still as Burnley Town Hall's clock gets its first major overhaul in 113 years. The clock was installed in 1888 and has been in need of attention for some time. Repair work carried out by experts from English Clockmakers of Ashbourne, Derbyshire
PLANS for housing instead of much need open space in one of Morecambe's most deprived areas have come under fire from councillors. Poulton ward Cllrs Tricia Heath and Shirley Burns say they will fight plans for a residential development on the former
SENIOR police chiefs have reacted with disappointment at the level of funding given to Lancashire Constabulary by the Government. They claim the 3.1 per cent increase is less than the amount needed just to fund existing pay and price increases. Chief
A BREAKAWAY faction of the City Council's cabinet has written to the County Council to say they favour ditching the Western Bypass and backing the Northern Route. This latest turn of events comes in a week of high drama with the County Council deciding
A SOLDIER who may be going to Afghanistan lost his temper and abused a taxi driver said to have tried to overcharge him. Burnley Magistrates heard how Simon Mulderig, 26, who was under stress, was alleged to have put his arm around the man's neck. Mulderig
A DROP-in support and advice centre for Pendle's asylum seekers and refugees is to be demolished and replaced with new and better facilities open to all socially excluded sections of the community. The new drop-in centre will be in a former furniture
POLICE in Pendle have renewed an appeal to the public for help in tracing two armed, masked men who robbed a petrol filling station. The robbers threatened an employee and tied him up before getting away with cigarettes and £8,000. Det Insp Tony Bolton
THE Library Theatre Company have done it again this Christmas with a magical leap into the land of Beauty and the Beast. Their production of the classic fairy tale has been brought to life with dramatic lighting, dance and action of the highest quality
THREE people were injured with one driver having to be cut free from his car by firefighters after two cars were involved in a smash in Accrington Road, Hapton. Vauxhall Astra driver Tony Colton, 29, of Forfar Street, Burnley, was trapped in his vehicle
TO THE writer of "Details supplied" (Citizen: 22/11/01) Yes, I do see what's happening in this country of ours and you seem to be one of the problems. We pensioners fought in a World War. Not and English war, or European or even an Asian war, we fought
I READ with interest your account of the recent expenses and allowance increases for Dr Ruth and her merry band of Police Authority members. While there is no doubt they could and probably would argue that they work hard for the money there is a way of
I READ with interest the letter by County Councillor Jonathan Sear of the Green Party, and his comments on the Western Bypass, which he predicts will be congested in 15 years. This may indeed be the case, (although the time scale is open to debate), however
A LANGHO youngster has achieved the highest accolade awarded by the Guiding movement. Marissa Pilling, 14, was presented with her Baden Powell Trefoil award by district commissioner Helen Whalley at a special ceremony at Great Harwood's Youth and Community
A BUSINESSMAN and his family have been targeted by raiders who stole more than £24,000 worth of unusual jewellery in a raid on his secluded luxury home. The items were taken during a burglary at the property in the Clitheroe area last week. The thieves
MARKET traders do not seem to be aware of the rules regarding occupation of their stalls. As market traders they are regulated by a 'first come, first served' basis used on all markets to preserve open competition. Any contract is on a day to day basis
The Daily Prophet (http://www.dprophet.com/) is the kind of site that exists in its own mixed-up world where fantasy clashes head on with reality. The site combines fan fiction with news reports and articles from more than 26 reporters and columnists.
FSAUCTIONS and UK Youth are hosting an auction packed with donated items, including the chance to bid for one male and one female part in Guy Ritchie's next movie! You will be given the chance to appear in a credited role in his next film which could
MORECAMBE travel to Chester on Saturday, hoping to improve their record against a club who have been one of their bogey teams over the last couple of years. The Deva Stadium club had been struggling at the foot of the table until their successful visit
LANCASTER eased their cup woes on Saturday with a home FA Trophy victory over Hinckley United -- but it took an overdose of injury time to secure passage to round three. City's recent FA Trophy record didn't inspire great confidence in their ability to
A MORECAMBE mother of five who seriously assaulted a former friend, ripping off her ear before pillaging her flat as she lay unconscious has been put behind bars. A judge told Marguerite Burgess, 39, and her teenage accomplice Ann-Jane Morrison, that
BLACKPOOL secured a place in the Northern semi-finals of the LDV vans trophy with a resounding 3-0 away win at Chesterfield. LDV Vans Trophy Northern Section Quarter-Final Chesterfield (0) 0 Blackpool (1) 3 Chesterfield: Abbey, Booty, Breckin, Payne,
TWO goals in 10 minutes added to Robbie Talbot's growing reputation and gave Morecambe their first double of the season at Nuneaton Borough on Saturday. The home side, dismissed 1-0 in the season's opening game, took the lead on 36 minutes when Craig
A MAN has denied murdering an elderly garage worker in Lancashire 24 years ago. Brian Garrity, 45, of Woodacre Road, Moor Nook, Preston, pleaded not guilty to murdering 72 year old Charles Gunn on December 2, 1977. He also denied a second charge of robbing
HOVERCRAFT tested in Morecambe could soon become a vital part of the lifeboat fleet after successful trials in Morecambe Bay. Trials took lace last Summer and the RNLI will spend the next few months evaluating where a hovercraft may be useful. The first
SUSPECTED burglars are to receive a special Christmas message from Lancashire police this month. The constabulary's Christmas card -- with the message 'targeting domestic burglary'-- will be sent to people identified as possible criminals. The card is
LANCASTER City Council's cabinet has been asked to look again at how it wants to restructure its planning services department. The council's internal affairs review board voted on Tuesday to 'refer back' a decision to change the department structure which
DARRENERS raised £6,761 this year for the Royal British Legion's poppy appeal. Secretary of the legion Terry Wyre said: "We beat last year's total by £800. "I was quite surprised - it was a marvellous achievement. "Every single penny will go to the poppy
A NEW neighbourhood watch scheme has received £1,000. The government-funded cash will buy security lights and chains, peep-holes and personal alarms for St James and Chapels Neighbourhood Watch. Co-ordinator Sue Freear, 50, said: "It's unusual for a Neighbourhood
A PEDESTRIAN aged 81 died after she was in collision with a 7.5 tonne Mitsubishi box van in the centre of Bacup. Dorothy Moore, of Heathfield Road, Stacksteads, was crossing the road near to the post office in Burnley Road when the accident happened at
READER Freda Wells of Great Harwood has submitted her recipe for rich mince pies -- giving plenty of time to prepare some for Christmas. Mrs Wells says the recipe has been in her family for more than 70 years -- it was passed from her grandmother to her
DELICIOUS asparagus is the centrepiece of this week's recipe, prepared by Nigel Smith, of the Feilden's Arms, Mellor Brook. Celebrity chef Nigel continues his tasty series of recipes for Lancashire Evening Telegraph readers with asparagus and chervil
A MAN accused of abducting and indecently assaulting two young girls in Blackburn significantly changed his appearance before standing in an identification parade, a court heard. Mark Andrew Hayhurst shaved off his moustache and cut his hair during the
THE brother of one of 12 'planespotters' arrested for spying in Greece has hit out at Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw for not doing enough to resolve the situation. And Steve Jenkins has been joined by other worried relations who accuse
LIFE begins at 40, so the saying goes -- and that is exactly what has happened to Oakhill College's nursery manager Debbie Watson. She decided to embark on a three-year Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education at Blackburn College of Childhood Studies
WORKERS at electronics giant Philips have become the latest victims of the wave of redundancies sweeping across East Lancashire -- taking local job losses to more than 900 in two weeks. Seventy-six workers at the Blackburn site will find out if they have
GOVERNMENT ministers today handed Lancashire's education department a £25million spending increase -- but councillors immediately claimed it was not enough. About £130 per pupil will be made available in Lancashire, equating to a 4.91 per cent rise on
A BRAND new lift at Blackburn Station will stand unused for weeks until staff can get together for a half-hour training session, according to rail bosses. The lift is part of a huge refurbishment programme of the station and was ready to use months ago
THE Trawden 7 mile Road and Trail Race has been won by a Trawden resident for the first time in its 19 year history. Clayton Harrier Dave Walker covered the distance in 41:12 to give him a margin of 48 seconds over Rossendale Harrier Thornton who took
DANIELLE Walker won her fifth cross country race of the season in Saturday's Mid Lancs Meeting at Blackpool to tighten her stranglehold on the under 13's age group. Last season she won both the Mid Lancs and Red Rose titles, and it seems that having reached
BURY'S persistent young offenders are to be targeted in a new initiative to curb their criminal activities. And the stark warning to them is to stop offending or face the consequences. The Youth Justice Board's Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme
BRETT Ormerod's £1.75 million move to Southampton has been completed and he is likely to go straight into the Saints squad for Saturday's crunch six-pointer at Leicester. The 20-goal striker succesfully passed a medical and has finalised the deal to become
