Archive

  • Nature Watch: Best time to watch birdie

    AS rain poured down and flood warnings seems to be everywhere I started looking through old diaries. Going back to January 1987 I found that the Foulridge area was flooded and soon afterwards birds flocked into the reservoirs. If you have some free time

  • Veteran Tom breaks all the barriers

    AGE has never been a barrier for runner Tom West. Tom, of Farcroft Avenue, Radcliffe, who is 62 on Saturday, has just taken a well-earned second place in the Over-60 category in the South East Lancs Cross-Country League. His trophy was awarded on the

  • No pot of gold for Heys

    Goldline Trophy Semi-Final: Prestwich Heys 1 Atherton Collieries 3 DESPITE dominating this semi-final, Heys' hopes of a date at the Reebok Stadium foundered on some lack-lustre first half finishing, and momentary lax defending in the second half as Atherton

  • Two weeks to save Shakers

    BELEAGUERED Bury Football Club is two weeks away from extinction. That's the ominous warning from joint chairmen and chief executives John Smith and Fred Mason who have spelled out the grim truth about the 117-year-old club. Financial troubles are piling

  • Get the beers in, I'm buying

    THE Council in Manchester, want employees to donate a pound a week out of their wages to charity. One of the Council executives said: "After all, it's equivalent to them missing a couple of pints a week." I'd like to know where he goes drinking, or how

  • Solution sought for ripped ticket

    MRS Jones buys a return ticket and thrusts it into her purse. On the return journey she has to buy a single because her return got torn in her purse. Why should this be? Answer: Because nine out of 10 bus drivers 'rip' tickets instead of using the punch

  • Focus should have been on success

    IWISH to express my disappointment at the way your paper reported the tremendous achievements St Edward's School, Darwen has made over the last two years to come out of Special Measures. I am sure you and your readers will appreciate that achieving such

  • Tales from the Touchline with Trevor Hanson

    DUE to the inclement weather there has been no activity in the none league scene. So this week there is no other subject to talk about than Rovers' big game next Sunday, in Steve Tinniswood's home town. But first, following on from my last column about

  • Whistle Blower with Neil Yates

    I RUFFLED feathers last week and for that I make no apology. My purpose was not to personalise but to make all within the game aware of their responsibilities in eradicating assaults on match officials. This week I will tell you why we referees are increasingly

  • Hot shot Joe has title in his sights

    NORTH West snooker players better watch their backs. For in next month's Inter-town Snooker Championships there's one hot shot who's got his mind set on winning the title. And he's only just turned 16! Young cuemaster Joe Nolan came a close runner up

  • Happy Hyndburn take second place

    HYNDBURN Athletics Club won the third and final event in the Lancashire Sports Hall Athletics Championship to pip Preston to second place in the overall league standings. It was a wonderful team performance from the club who competed superbly in the competition

  • Jobless figure rises

    THE borough's jobless figures for last month showed a sharp upsurge. Unadjusted claimant count for January totalled 2,190 which represented an increase of 252 over the previous month. The latest statistics comprise 1,655 males and 535 females. Consequently

  • Young and old share honours

    MICK O'Horo has probably got pants older than Whinney Hill striker Robert Addison. And John Howarth no doubt owns a pair of socks that have been around longer than Robert's younger brother Mark. But old or young, all four played their part in this intriguing

  • Cleaning up their act

    BURY offenders on community punishment orders will be cleaning up their acts. And they will be sparing motorists of their least favourite task, that of washing the car. A new car wash scheme, with proceeds going to charity, will be launched in Rochdale

  • Hotel owner dismisses road flooding claims

    DRIVERS were plunged into difficulties in Walshaw Road, Bury, when a problem spot was again submerged. Claims that flooding has been caused by releases of water from a lake belonging to the Bolholt Country Park Hotel were strongly denied. Motorists heading

  • Schoolgirl death: not guilty plea

    A WOMAN today pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of schoolgirl Melissa Strickson, who died of a suspected drugs overdose. Sally Edwina Corkhill, 40, of Sudell Road Darwen, also pleaded not guilty to supplying the 13 year-old girl with a Class C drug

  • Prospects good for students at new centre

    THE latest addition to the Bury College campus has now opened its doors to students and staff. The brand new £2.8 million building has been named the Prospects Centre and extends the teaching and learning facilities available at the college. The building

  • Flat ransacked as man lies in hospital

    VANDALS ransacked a man's flat as he lay seriously ill in hospital. The youths struck at the home of Gary Cassidy (35), in Tulle Court, Prestwich, less than 48-hours after fire ravaged his home. Mr Cassidy was taken to North Manchester General Hospital

  • Souey's in for Yordi and Unsal

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness was hoping to boost his striking options by sealing a loan deal for Spanish forward Yordi. Reports in Spain last night suggested the Real Zaragoza forward is poised to join Rovers on loan until the end of the season. And

  • Candice joins the SAS!

    CORONATION Street star Nikki Sanderson went back to her old school to launch a campaign to save it from closure. As reported exclusively in the Bury Times, Affetside Primary may be closed as falling pupil numbers leave classrooms empty across the borough

  • Lord's case bowled out

    A BURNLEY teenager arrested following violence at an international cricket match has walked free from court after prosecutors failed to secure evidence from a TV cameraman covering the game. The case against the 17-year-old student from the Burnley Wood

  • Royal approval for Melanie

    A 12-YEAR-OLD girl has received a Royal seal of approval for her quick-thinking and calm actions in an emergency. Heroic Melanie Lawson, who is a pupil at Parrenthorn High School, Prestwich, was invited to meet HRH Princess Anne at a special Buckingham

  • Neighbour 'kicked door down'

    A DRUNKEN woman who burst into a neighbour's home accused her of kicking her door, a court heard. Burnley Magistrates were told how Joyce McCamon was falling about and later told police she had had a bottle of vodka. McCamon, 36, of Williams Street, Colne

  • BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

    CALLING all classical music fans, make a date in your listening diary for 7.30pm Radio 3 on March 1. Because if you do, you will hear this fantastic concert conducted by willowy and elegant Paul Daniels -- an eclectic mix of the music of Sibelius, Beethoven

  • Ten years ago

    JASON Read was preparing for a 2,200ft parachute jump for charity - despite having a life-long fear of heights. The jump by the 29-year-old from Audley Range, Blackburn, hoped to raise £4,000 for research at The Christie Hospital, Manchester.

  • Five years ago

    CHURCH bosses appealed to pub-goers to raise money for a Blackburn Cathedral appeal by drinking more beer. But many police officers and counsellors were 'gobsmacked' at the plans to make money on a new Cathedral Brew produced by Blackburn brewers Thwaites

  • Big fine for owner of dirty takeaway

    THE owner of a Ribble Valley takeaway has been fined more than £1,500 for contravening food safety regulations. Blackburn magistrates found Sadaqat Ali, who operates Sultan's Fast Food Delivery in Whalley Road, Clitheroe, guilty of the offences under

  • Anger as trees face the axe

    PLANS to remove a boundary wall and trees have been given the green light -- despite being branded as "municipal vandalism" by a Ribble Valley councillor. Ribble Valley Borough Council's planning and development committee agreed to replace the wall at

  • 'Municipal vandalism' won't stand in way of new CCTV

    PLANS to remove a boundary wall and trees have been given the green light -- despite being branded as "municipal vandalism" by a Ribble Valley councillor. Ribble Valley Borough Council's planning and development committee agreed to replace the wall at

  • Two points are blown away

    Blackpool 2 Peterborough United 2 Scorers: O'Kane (45), Hills (64) Scorers: Bullard (pen 33), Edwards (78) Attendance: 4,604 A FREAK goal prevented Pool from collecting all three points in a windy encounter at Bloomfield Road, last Saturday. John Hills

  • Company offers sample service

    BURY companies are invited to "sample" the expertise of a neighbouring business. For Biwater Treatment Ltd (Heywood) has now thrown open its new laboratory facility to firms in Bury, Middleton and Rochdale. Biwater, which used to be known as Ames Crosta

  • Council gets mobiles

    A BURY-based telecommunications company is ensuring mobile phones improve the efficiency and safety of Lancashire council workers. And thanks to independent advice from Pennine Telecom, the business is saving local council tax payers money. The council

  • Shoplifter had knife

    POLICE are hunting a shoplifter who pulled a knife on a Blackpool shop assistant in broad daylight. The man walked into the Nightingale's store in Leopold Grove at around 3.15pm on January 31, but as he was leaving the store goods he had stolen set off

  • It's been a Monster week for music man John

    SINCE the news that local musician John Anthony was responsible for composing a piece of music from the Disney film Monsters Inc, his schedule has been simply . . . MONSTROUS. As reported in last week's Bury Times, John (60) hit the headlines when it

  • Mayor says special "thank you"

    BURY'S mayor, Councillor Paul Nesbit has sent out a big "thank you" to dozens of youngsters from across the borough who helped boost his charity cause. The 5-17 year olds were involved in the highly successful 2002 Bury Variety Showcase concert which

  • Initiative to keep drivers out of a jam

    BURY motorists and those elsewhere throughout Greater Manchester will benefit from a massive £100 million "jam-busting" initiative. Motorway and trunk networks in Greater Manchester, as well as others in the region, are included in a plan to beat congestion

  • £15m contract will result in 100 new jobs

    BETHELL Group -- the current Bolton and Bury Company of the Year -- has won a £15 million electrical cable installation contract from United Utilities. It will create 100 new jobs. The contract comes just months after Bethell won a £25 million five-year

  • Techno team are the tops

    BURY'S ground-breaking Techno Team has proved its technique is working by notching up impressive results. Since its launch on December 1 the borough's group of quick-fix workers has completed more than 400 jobs in the area. Co-ordinated by Community Safety

  • It's a miracle my hero son survived

    THE mother of a Radcliffe man, who was savagely beaten and left for dead, says it is "a miracle" he survived. Jason Gould almost lost an eye and his tongue was split in two when he was hit over the head with a machete, beaten by a gang of robbers and

  • Council tax up by 6.5 per cent

    DESPERATE times for social services have helped lead to a 6.5 per cent rise in next year's council tax. Bosses are setting aside £1 million to meet another probable overspend in 2002/03. It follows another traumatic year for the department, which is forecast

  • Ofsted praise for school's high standards

    HIGHLY effective were the two words which summed up an Ofsted inspection team's view of one Bury school. From the very beginning of their detailed report, the independent inspectors made clear their high regard for St Joseph and St Bede's RC primary.

  • Boro fail to take chances

    GUISELEY 2 RADCLIFFE BORO 1: BORO found that dominating possession is of little use if it cannot be turned into goals as the home side's Ryan Senior gave a master class in finishing writes John Bullen Virtually the first time Boro keeper Danny Hurst was

  • Rain a pain again

    BURNLEY'S ill-fated home clash with Bradford City was postponed for the second time in seven weeks by referee Tony Bates. The Stoke official had called the game off on New Year's Day because of freezing temperatures and an icy pitch. Last night it was

  • Shakers pay the penalty

    Cardiff City 1 Bury 0 by Phil Thorp: CARDIFF skipper Graham Kavanagh's 43rd minute penalty denied the Shakers a vital point their endeavour deserved. On a horrendous night for weather in South Wales, Andy Preece's men paid the price for a lack of cutting

  • Convenient conviences at school

    TOILETS at a school in Stacksteads are being upgraded thanks to Government cash of £47,000. Headteacher of Holy Trinity CE School in Booth Road John Aspin said the work was being carried out in phases so that facilities were always available for the children

  • Don't take holidays during term

    PARENTS of pupils attending school in the Ramsbottom area will receive letters advising them not to take their children on holiday during term time. Bury Metro's executive member for Lifelong Learning, Coun Steve Perkins, said: "The right to request leave

  • Majorie unearths a celebrity collection

    MOHAMMED Ali's boxing glove, a silver Princess Diana medal and a natty leather cap worn by pop icon Madonna on the cover of Italian Vogue are among Rossendale's best kept secrets. Marjorie Trouesdale has been a collector of show business memorabilia since

  • Carry on with the facelift...

    GIGANTIC wind breaks, two new domes and more short-term parking -- these were all part of a dramatic new look unveiled for St Annes Square. Shoppers will soon be protected from sea breezes by the massive wind baffles -- to be sited across the seaside

  • Play talent

    LIKE lots of other Rovers fans, I am getting fed up of Graeme Souness's comments of 'we should have got something out of the match' or 'he shouldn't have been red-carded'. In my view, there doesn't seem to be enough discipline and desire to do the right

  • Nightmare over for gun victim's mum

    THE mother of shotgun victim Darren Bell today spoke of her disappointment at the jail sentences given to his killers but said: "Thank goodness my nightmare is finally over." Carol Bell , 51, spoke after her son's killers, Anthony O'Reilly, Paul McWillaims

  • Whining Rovers followers have no idea

    I READ with dismay the remarks about Blackburn Rovers in Sport Letters (LET, February 13). Why do so-called fans slag off our team time and time again? Do they think it is their right to moan all the time, or is it just our fans? If it isn't about a bad

  • 'Boost' in fight over care homes

    CAMPAIGNERS today claimed a small victory in their fight to stop 19 of East Lancashire's care homes from the axe. Frank Hessey, chairman of the Lancashire Care Association, spoke out about his top-level meeting with a junior health minister as protest

  • Uncle Jack would hate moaning fans

    IN reply to F Thompson (Sport Letters, February 13), Graeme Souness will be remembered for more than relegating us and making us bankrupt. We haven't been relegated yet. We still have a good chance of surviving. It's not all his fault -- he's not on the

  • NORTH WEST STAGES TOP TEN RESULTS

    1: Peter Stojanov/Tim Stojanov (Metro 6R4); 1hr 33min 11secs; 2: Ken Murray/John Vance (Mitsubishi Evo4) 1.33.48; 3: Duncan Taylor/Stephen Graveson (Escort Cosworth) 1.36.30; 4: Mark Durham/Andy Mort (Corsa) 1.37.35; 5: Dale Thomas/Wayne Thomas (Manta

  • Derby delight

    DARWEN travel to local rivals Nelson tonight in the North West Counties League second division. Darwen, who are level on points but one place behind Nelson, could leapfrog the Victoria Park side if they win. But Nelson boss John Bailey will be hoping

  • Training nights for navigators

    CLITHEROE and district motor club is holding a series of training nights for rally navigators. Organised by leading road rally competitor Simon Daly, the scheme is aimed at helping novices to learn all aspects of the discipline. "The idea is to start

  • Williams secures Reds a final spot

    GARY Williams scored a last gasp winner to secure Accrington Stanley a Lancashire Marsden Challenge Trophy final place where they will face Barrow or Clitheroe. The striker, who had come on in the 70th minute, hit a 25 yard strike in injury time to give

  • Our "slice" is just a few crumbs

    I WAS delighted to read of Bury Council's enlightened initiatives to encourage parents to accompany their children to school on foot (Bury Times, Feb 8). I have always said that, as a parent, I would like to walk my child to school. However, if Bury Council

  • Peer at hospital opening

    THE newly-developed Fairfield Hospital in Bury will be officially opened by the Earl of Derby today. Lord Derby will unveil a commemorative plaque at the main entrance before touring the new facilities, which include wards, departments and facilities

  • Wycombe whacked

    BLACKPOOL secured a valuable three points with a resounding victory over Wycombe Wanderers. And the golas were spread around the Seasiders three strikers Richard Walker, John Murphy and Scott Taylor were on the scoresheet. Wycombe Wanderers 1 Blackpool

  • The signs are encouraging

    AMID the debate ignited by this newspaper over how run-down Lord Square threatens the efforts to regenerate Blackburn's town centre and boost its prosperity are many imaginative projects that make the prospects seem bright overall -- as is shown by our

  • It's a fight to the finish

    RADCLIFFE BOROUGH assistant manager Mike Farrelly expects his side will have to battle right to the end of the season, despite their current seven-point cushion at the top of the UniBond Division One table. Boro play at Guiseley on Saturday looking to

  • Two years early in fulfilling pledge

    ONLY days ago, Labour met its pledge to recruit 20,000 extra nurses and midwives by 2004 two years early. During the election last year, the Tories said the pledge was 'preposterous' and could not be done. The Tories always talk down the NHS. In an interview

  • State of playing fields no mystery

    IWAS interested to read your report on the Great Harwood Area Council meeting (LET, February 7) and the remarks by former Hyndburn Council leader George Slynn, regarding the Memorial Park playing fields. County Councillor Slynn said: "This area has been

  • Identity codes can be cracked

    ONCE again the spectre of a compulsory identity card raises its head and, again, the reasons given are the spurious ones of tracking asylum seekers and fighting the 'black' economy. Since the black economy thrives on the fact that rogue employers don't

  • Darwen reach Boyle-ing point

    DARWEN LADIES' speedy striker Karen Boyle left Blackburn Rovers in her slip stream to book a place in the Lancashire League Cup final. Boyle, a national standard sprinter, destroyed Rovers with her pace and power as she fired home four superb goals. The

  • It's flipping crazy at YU

    STAFF and customers at Bury's YU Bar in Market Street took part in a charity pancake tossing event. Pictured trying her hand at tossing a pancake is Mrs Margaret Holcroft, district manager of the charity organisation and time-keeper and YU Bar co-owner

  • Barber's still blowing strong

    A PACKED house enjoyed a snazzy night of music as the VIPs of Jazz took The Grand by storm. Tuesday's one-night show featured The Big Chris Barber Band, The Dutch Swing College and The Pasadena Roof Orchestra in a three-hour extravaganza of jazz, swing

  • North still tops sick heart league

    A TOTAL of 482 people under the age of 65 died of heart disease in the Bury and Rochdale area from 1997 to 1999, according to new figures. The figures, published by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), show that 373 men and 109 women died from coronary

  • Gun thug murders local man (34)

    POLICE have launched a murder investigation after a Whitefield man was gunned down. McMurray Chinadu Iheagwara (34) died on arrival at North Manchester General Hospital on Friday (Feb 15). He had suffered a number of gunshot wounds to his body. Mr Iheagwara's

  • Reward after violent robbery

    A REWARD is being offered after a violent armed robbery outside a post office. A security guard was attacked with a machete and a metal bar by masked raiders who escaped with around £5,000. The robbery happened at 11.35am on Wednesday (Feb 13) when a

  • Car crash kills two

    TWO people were killed and another injured after their car crashed into a wall while being followed by a police van today. The 19-year-old driver of the car, Ali Hussain, and the front seat passenger, Imran Esan Aziz, 22, both of Randal Street, Blackburn

  • Jubilee is on the agenda

    LOCAL, regional and even national topics will be on the agenda at the next meeting of Radcliffe Area Board. Councillor Barry Briggs, area board chairman, said: "It looks like being a particularly busy evening, but despite the fact that we have a lot on

  • Customers caught up in armed raid

    TWO customers were caught up in an armed raid at a Prestwich off-licence. Now, detectives want the help of one of the customers and a number of people who were at a bus stop opposite the Bargain Booze in Bury New Road at the time of the robbery. The armed

  • RMI match washed out

    LEIGH RMI's hopes of continuing their momentum in the Nationwide Conference were dashed last night as their six-pointer with fellow relegation candidates Stalybridge Celtic was a victim of the weather. Leigh, unbeaten in their last four league matches

  • Tip top on their toes!

    DANCING for joy! That's a number of Bury youngsters who have the world at their feet. For the pupils of the town's Janet Lomas School of Dancing have achieved excellent results after entering the Royal Academy of Dance examinations. Janet Lomas described

  • Where are they now?

    THE Lancashire Evening Telegraph tracks down the players from the last time Rovers were in a major cup final. The Ewood outfit lost 3-0 to Wolves at Wembley in 1960 but they were - with no substitutes - effectively playing with nine men as Derek Dougan

  • That losing feeling is one I'll never forget

    BRYAN DOUGLAS does not want Rovers to feel like he did after the FA Cup final of 1960. Then the Ewood outfit lost 3-0 to Wolves at Wembley but they were - with no substitutes - effectively playing with nine men as Derek Dougan - who handed in a transfer

  • Big game is next week

    WHILE all eyes are focused on Sunday's Worthington Cup final in Cardiff, Rovers' perilous plight in the Premiership was once again underlined by Middlesbrough's victory over Fulham last night. Steve McLaren's men, who looked so inept on Saturday, comfortably

  • New auditorium for school

    THE curtain has gone up at a Bury school to reveal a brand new auditorium. Broad Oak High School's stage facility has been created from an open area in the grounds off Hazel Avenue. Builders fitted out and roofed the space between existing buildings and

  • Pupils help build schools of the future

    GIRLS at Bury Grammar School could be heading for a major UN conference in Johannesburg. They are taking part in a North West competition to design the ideal school for the year 2050. The Schoolbuilding competition is being staged by Sustainability Northwest

  • Joy for town leaders

    SIXTEEN schemes to improve Burnley's most deprived areas have been approved. The projects totalling £1.7million from a total of three budgets of £2.8 million include £25,000 to attract an NHS dentist into the Burnley area through financing equipment and

  • Fred gives a frank talk

    CATERING students from Nelson and Colne College welcomed TV weatherman Fred Talbot to their restaurant yesterday to mark the launch event for this year's Nelson Food Festival. The search has now begun to find quality food businesses to take part in the

  • Chance to shape town of the future

    RESIDENTS in Earby who want to see their neighbourhood improved are being urged to attend an event which will shape the future of their town. The whole community is invited to voice their concerns and suggest ways Earby could be made more attractive to

  • Witnesses speak of shock over rape

    TWO key witnesses in the hunt for a rapist who attacked a teenager in her own home have spoken of the community's shock -- and called for help to catch the attacker. The Great Harwood couple's comments came as police staged a reconstruction in a bid to

  • Firefighter makes jobs rallying call

    A RETAINED firefighter today issued a rallying call for more ethnic recruits and said: 'It is a satisfying and rewarding job.' Lancashire Fire Service has just nine full-time and retained ethnic minority staff out of 1,020 employees-- a figure that has

  • Golden Bullock!

    Huddersfield 2 Blackpool 1 (Agg 3-4 after extra time) Scorers: Wijnhard (5), Schofield (33) Scorer: Bullock (104) BLACKPOOL reached the final of the LDV Vans Trophy thanks to an extra time strike from Martin Bullock. The Seasiders lost the tie 2-0 on

  • Penalty blow spoils day

    POOL were guilty of conceding yet another penalty which lost them three more useful points. But unlike Rhys Days woeful lunge and Phil Barnes rugby tackle which led to penalties in the previous two games, this spot kick wasnt so clear-cut. Steve McMahon

  • New forms' aim is to beat VAT fraud

    CUSTOMS and Excise have introduced revised VAT registration forms which came into effect at the beginning of the year. The aim is to improve the clarity of the forms for all taxpayers, but also to assist the department's strategy to combat VAT Missing

  • Business club's education theme

    "EDUCATION, education, education" was the theme of the Bury Business Club's lively inaugural meeting of 2002, hosted by Bury College. Presentations from the college and Bolton and Bury Chamber's Education Business Partnership (EBP) stressed the value

  • £4,700 boost for entrepreneur Ruth

    A FORMER social worker with a good business idea is the first woman to benefit from a ground-breaking enterprise initiative. Ruth Yasmeen, who started the Intercare Employment Agency in Bury 14 months ago, has received £4,700 from the "Women in Business

  • Tim is spinning to the top

    A TALENTED student from Lytham is taking the UK's clubscene by storm with his dazzling DJ skills on the decks. Tim Nicholls of Southholme, Lytham, is through to the semi-finals for the Red decksandefx National Student DJ Competition 2001/02 and is feeling

  • Rain a pain again

    BURNLEY'S ill-fated home clash with Bradford City was postponed for the second time in seven weeks by referee Tony Bates. The Stoke official had called the game off on New Year's Day because of freezing temperatures and an icy pitch. Last night it was

  • Cardiff here we come!

    BLACKPOOL supporters will be cheering on their heroes at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Sunday, March 24, for the second time within a year. More than 2,000 Seasiders fans went crazy at Huddersfield Town's McAlpine Stadium on Tuesday night when Martin

  • Pantomimers make a wish

    LITTLE treasures are to inject some magic into their annual pantomime when they stage Aladdin this week. And members of the Ramsbottom-based Freedom Community Theatre are hoping their own wish for a theatre will soon come true. Young thespians will perform

  • Votes-by-post plan falls at first hurdle

    MOVES to mothball Bury's polling booths in favour of a vote-by-post system has failed to win a mandate from ministers. The offer to pilot a 100 per cent postal election for this May's council elections was turned down after it failed to attract support

  • A point of principle over pay

    POINT out as he may that he puts in up to 60 hours a week on council work and that the recommendation for increased allowances for councillors that will see his shoot up from £2,400 to £8,000 comes from an independent panel, Burnley's council leader Stuart

  • Good Lord! What surprise soulmates

    HAVING in the past posed for his picture in Blackburn's flaky and forgotten Lord Square in order to stress how off-putting an unkempt appearance can be, the town hall's regeneration supremo, Councillor Ashley Whalley, now calls for at least some of the

  • Winter Olympics: All the latest news and results

    CATCH up with all the Winter Olympics news and results with our special links Latest news and results Click HERE Latest news - another site Click HERE Latest news - from the Washington Post Click HERE All about Salt Lake City Click HERE More about Salt

  • Souey's in for Yordi and Unsal

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness was hoping to boost his striking options by sealing a loan deal for Spanish forward Yordi. Reports in Spain last night suggested the Real Zaragoza forward is poised to join Rovers on loan until the end of the season. And

  • Speeder facing possible ban

    MASERATI driver Gerald Derek Deaffern was clocked doing more than 80mph in a 40mph zone on Bolton Road, Darwen. Blackburn magistrates heard that when he was eventually spoken to by an officer in Egerton Deaffern said: "I'm surprised you could keep up.

  • Schoolgirl death: woman pleads not guilty

    A WOMAN today pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of schoolgirl Melissa Strickson, who died of a suspected drugs overdose. Sally Edwina Corkhill, 40, of Sudell Road Darwen, also pleaded not guilty to supplying the 13 year-old girl with a Class C drug

  • Shop cash snatched

    A MAN snatched a bag containing £5,480 in shop takings from a woman taking the cash to the post office. Police believe he knew a shop worker would be carrying the money before he struck on Monday morning in Darwen town centre. But DS Ian Critchley, of

  • Cannabis grower had appropriate address

    AROUND 80 cannabis plants were discovered when police searched a Darwen address - in Pothouse Lane. A man living at the home was ordered to carry out unpaid community work while a co-defendant was jailed for six months as both were sentenced at Preston

  • Taxi! Thanks to government cash

    RESIDENTS who live in remote areas of Rossendale are to benefit from an expanded transport service thanks to a cash boost from the government. The Arranged Passenger Transport (APT) is a shared taxi service that links areas of Ramsbottom, now set to be

  • Lifesaver costs just 15p

    JUST 15p could save the life of an elderly or vulnerable person in the Fylde. That's how much it costs to produce a single DataLink container that can save precious minutes for Paramedics and emergency services called to the home of an unconscious or

  • Woman slammed police van doors on 'attacker'

    A WOMAN slammed the door of a police van on the legs of a man she thought had been responsible for an attack on her boyfriend. But while police restrained the mother of three, who also spat at the man, he got up and walked away and Alison Smith was the

  • Sale time

    A JUMBLE sale will be held at Ingleside residential home in Upper George Street, Tyldesley between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, February 23. Admission is free.

  • Enjoying the lads words

    I CONGRATULATE you on your excellent football columns by Simon Leigh and Stephen Cummings. The way they have a 'pop' at one another is childish, but good fun I think, and the first thing I look for on a Tuesday evening. But Stephen had me looking for

  • Church lunch

    TRINITY Methodist Church pastoral care staff's next lunch will be on the February 26, and a warm welcome is extended to anyone who lives in the Westleigh area.

  • Car crash kills two

    TWO people were killed and another injured after their car crashed into a wall while being followed by a police van today. The 19-year-old driver of the car, Ali Hussain, and the front seat passenger, Imran Esan Aziz, 22, both of Randal Street, Blackburn

  • No point ranting at refs

    IT'S about time Graeme Souness and his players realised that the referee is in charge of the game. No matter how bad a decision appears to be -- and Lucas Neill's sending off at Middlesbrough was diabolical -- the only person who will get the referee

  • Cummings has an inferiority complex

    LIKE most Burnley fans Stephen Cummings (LET, February 12), has a huge inferiority complex regarding all things Blackburn Rovers. This ingrained jealousy is borne out of years of following his impoverished little club around the lower regions of the Football

  • NHS job vacancies show dramatic rise

    A HEALTH Trust today admitted that job vacancies in East Lancashire's hospitals were giving cause for concern after rising dramatically. The NHS Performance Indicators show that vacancies at both the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust and

  • Slaughtered for a £1,000 debt

    IN the seedy underworld of drugs and crime where life comes cheap, Darren Bell's price tag read a mere £1,000. It was a price paid for crossing three notorious drug dealers over an unpaid debt. Police say Bell's killers, Paul McWilliams, Anthony O'Reilly

  • Rovers quartet have not performed

    ONE can only imagine the thoughts going through the minds of Matt Jansen, Gary Flitcroft, David Dunn and Andy Cole on Wednesday as England's new crop of young hopefuls shone in the international in Holland. A few shorts months ago, the Rovers quartet

  • Lord Square: Creating a capital

    THE transformation of Church Street, which is nearing completion, is one of the major pieces in the jigsaw of Blackburn's rejuvenation. But what is the great plan for the rest of the town centre? Reporter David Higgerson looks at how a series of schemes

  • Cup final ticket policies are 'a joke'

    WHEN are Blackburn Rovers going to get the message concerning ticket distribution? They said that they would try to distribute their Worthington Cup final allocation of 29,852 tickets as fairly as possible due to the level of demand being expected to

  • Dougherty is up against Faldo

    NICK Dougherty will again come up against his mentor Nick Faldo at the Cartex Singapore Masters, which starts tomorrow. The 19-year-old pro, a member at Shaw Hill, tees off at 8.25am at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club. Dougherty finished eighth

  • Brothers make a storming finish

    SIMONSTONE-based brothers Dale and Wayne Thomas staged one of the comebacks of the rally in their Opel Manta 400. A lowly 42nd overall after five stages, the pair were, by their own admittance, 'ready to pack up and go home'. However, a storming run over

  • Stone forced to retire

    THERE was no concealing John Stone's disappointment after his retirement from the North West Stages. Lying second overall at one point, the Blackburn businessman was set to score a sensational result with his new Metro 6R4. However, electrical problems

  • Pair feel heat but clinch win

    METRO men Peter and Tim Stojanov survived a last-minute scare to claim their maiden victory on the North West Stages. With their 6R4 suffering from overheating problems going into the last four stages, the Cheltenham-based brothers saw their seemingly

  • Teen prodigy wins top school place

    REWIND to the season of 1993 when six-year-old Chris Leck pulled on a rugby shirt for the first time and promptly scored five tries against Ilkley. A star was born. Fast forward a few years and Leck dived over for a hat-trick of tries for Calder Vale

  • Dr Ice will keep his cool for medal

    KRISTAN BROMLEY will be looking to take some of the limelight off Great Britain's top medal prospect Alex Coomber when both compete in the skeleton bobsleigh in Salt Lake City today. But the Waterfoot athlete - nicknamed Dr Ice because he has a PhD in

  • Most are glad to see him go

    TONY Cunningham (Feb 1) wrote nothing short of complete twaddle! How can he claim that critics of ex-Bury FC chairman and chief executive Mr Robinson are ignorant and that the vast majority of Shakers followers thought highly of the man at the top? I

  • Murder charge eight in court

    EIGHT men are due in appear in Oldham Magistrates Court today charged with the murder of Bury teenager Gavin Hopley. The men, aged between 18 and 29, are charged with murder, while some also face charges of attempted assault and disorder. Mr Hopley, aged