IN the flesh Jack Dee is much smaller than his TV hard-man image. But the celebrity misery guts -- reduced to a tiny figure behind a microphone in the packed Preston Guild Hall -- still held the audience spellbound for two-and-a-half hours. Rumour has
A FRENCH evening is being held at Alston Hall, Longridge, Preston, on Sunday, March 17. La Belle France is presented by Helena Kean, a mezzo-soprano, and accompanist Graham Jackson, along with travel photographer Brenda Kean. The evening, from 6.30pm,
AFTER the storm of protest it suffered last year for mowing down daffodils before they bloomed, it might have been thought that Blackburn with Darwen Council had learned a lesson. But, no -- they have done it again. This time, it is the daffs planted
THE proposed closure of old people's homes by a Labour-elected council is a disgrace. They say they can't find £14.5 million. The Labour government wasted millions on the Dome and millions go abroad to help other countries. We give asylum seekers better
REGARDING the proposed closing of old folks homes, I don't know which "banana" councils are responsible for it, but I wouldn't be surprised if half of them were still sucking their dummies or not even born. Do they not realise that a lot of men and women
MUCH is being made of Labour-controlled Lancashire County Council's attitude towards the closure of homes for the elderly and, on a more local note, the closure of Oswaldtwistle fire station, which will put an unnecessary risk on the lives of the local
RESIDENTS and flower lovers are blooming fuming after a council's Daff Destroyers prevented spring arriving on the borough's verges for the second year running. Blackburn with Darwen Council workmen have signalled their intentions by mowing down a 350
Leigh Centurions 16 Workington Town 14 By Mike Hulme: CENTURIONS' boss Paul Terzis could hardly hide his relief after seeing his side scrape another crucial victory. Terzis admitted that his team 'had one eye on next week's Wigan cup tie' as they fumbled
BLACKBURN Rovers are facing a major fixture headache which could seriously jeopardise their survival bid following the outcome of the FA Cup quarter finals over the weekend. Chelsea's 4-0 win over Tottenham and Newcastle's 1-1 draw with Arsenal now means
A PRESTON dog lover is grooming her pets for success as she prepares to take part in the cream-of-the-crop dog show Crufts. Sarah Morgan, 19, of Selbourne Street, made it through to compete in a final for dog handlers as part of the prestigious show with
SPECIAL wardens will soon be patrolling three troubled Preston estates thanks to a Government windfall. Last year Preston Borough Council applied for funding to set up a street warden scheme in the town's Fishwick, St Matthews and Ribbleton wards. Now
A FULWOOD drama student who sang to a packed crowd at the Royal Albert Hall is preparing to tread the boards at the town's Charter Theatre in a wacky musical production. And student Kate Holderness, of Cromwell Road, Preston, admits she is having the
A PRESTON pensioner, who suffers from a little known eye disease, has backed a national campaign to raise awareness about the condition. Ruth Swift, from Goosnargh, is urging people to have regular eye tests after being diagnosed with the rare condition
POLICE today warned youngsters to be on their guard after a man tried to abduct a 12-year-old girl. The girl had been walking down Holme Road, Burnley towards Todmorden Road on her way home at about 7.45pm on Friday night. A white van - believed to be
COMMUNITY beat officer PC Andy Thornhill has drawn up a schedule of surgeries for local residents in his Burnley Wood area of the town. Over the next few weeks he will be paying regular visits to four different venues to speak to residents about their
RESIDENTS are demanding the return of a village bobby to rid their community of knife-wielding yobs and drug dealers. People living in Worsthorne -- which has one of the lowest crime levels in Burnley -- claim problems have risen since their beat police
RESIDENTS are demanding the return of a village bobby to rid their community of knife-wielding yobs and drug dealers. People living in Worsthorne -- which has one of the lowest crime levels in Burnley -- claim problems have risen since their beat police
HUNDREDS of youngsters danced their way to top trophies in the 55th annual Nelson Festival. The event, held over two weekends at the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, Colne, prompted entries from all over East Lancashire and from as far afield as St Helen's,
St PIUS X Prep School have struck a double athletics gold. They claimed their first gold in the Lancashire Sportshall Athletics competition after a closely-fought final round at Hyndburn. Then a mixed team of three boys and three girls won gold at a triathlon
A TEAM of Preston College footballers emerged victorious from a trip to the USA when they went undefeated to win the Presidents Day Soccer Tournament. Calling themselves Atletico Preston they beat Erin Mills FC from Toronto 3-2 in the final of the tournement
INVINCIBLE veteran Barry Crook, became the Open Singles Table Tennis Champion of Preston at the Preston Closed Championships. He defeated Paul Shirley in a hard fought encounter to win in three games 11-21, 21-10, 24-22. Barry went on to make it a hat-trick
COLNE Municipal Hall centenary celebrations began yesterday with a performance by Colne Orchestral Society - the ensemble which played at the opening concert in 1902. Some of the music was the same as 100 years ago as a week of special events got under
A TOWN hit by job losses and the foot and mouth crisis is set to benefit from a £10,000 marketing package to put it back on the map. Barnoldswick has been selected by Business in the Community rural action programme, the Countryside Agency and the North
THE Jim Fryer USA band will be joined by Lancashire's Young Bunch at the next Feast of Jazz Performance, on Friday, March 10, from 8pm. Tickets to the event, at the Grasshoppers Rugby Club, Lightfoot Lane, Preston, are £4 on the door. For details, call
THE FORMER lead singer with sixties stars Manfred Mann can't wait to return to Preston for his latest gig. Mike D'Abo, who sang with the group from 1966 to 1969, will in Preston on Saturday, March 23, as part of the 'Reelinandarockin' supergroup, performing
A ROMANTIC illusionist who appealed for an assistant to help out in her shows has found the perfect partner. Sarah Collins, of Brydeck Avenue, Penwortham, was short of a helper for her show for the summer season. She was hoping to find a male assistant
BROWNIE Kimberley Hart received the first ever Lancashire bravery award for rescuing her mum and dad from a fire. She received the solid silver gallantry award after raising the alarm when the house at Edgworth filled with smoke
PLANS to close four East Lancashire children's homes have been unveiled less than 18 months after two others shut down. Social Services bosses at Lancashire County Council have begun consulting interested parties on plans to axe their homes in Branacre
Friday, March 15 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst
Monday, March 11 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst
Wednesday, March 13 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; The Surgery (Chiropody), 132 Lammack Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The
A SPURNED man who torched his ex-partner's home after finding her new boyfriend sitting on the settee has been jailed for 18 months. Burnley Crown Court heard how a 'menage a trois' was the cause of Gordon Monk's upset and had made him "crack." He had
FOLLOWING Saturday's morale boosting victory at Stockport County, Clarets boss Stan Ternent declared: "Our fate is in our own hands. "We have got eight games to play, five of them at home against sides who, like us, have something to play for. "The nearer
IT WAS a game that Burnley boss Stan Ternent had labelled a "must win", so it was with a mixture of relief and satisfaction that at the end he could say: "Well, we've won it." His assessment that it was not a pretty game was right on the button but in
FOLLOWING Saturday's morale boosting victory at Stockport County, Clarets boss Stan Ternent declared: "Our fate is in our own hands. "We have got eight games to play, five of them at home against sides who, like us, have something to play for. "The nearer
STRIKER Richard Cresswell pledged to carry on hitting the back of the net after his brace had earned Preston a hard-fought 2-1 win at home to Rotherham. The 24-year-old Yorkshireman bolstered his reputation as a more-than-adequate replacement for Jon
Bury 0 Notts County 4 by Chris Hall: ALL the promising work from Shakers' last two matches was spectacularly unravelled as their survival hopes took a real pounding at Gigg Lane. With all the financial uncertainty surrounding the club off the field, this
A GROUP of drinking buddies loved their local so much they decided to buy it! And the pals, now the tenants of the Hindle Arms, Lower Darwen, plan to put a manager in charge so they can stay in their regular seats in the bar. Lower Darweners Pete Duxbury
A DOG has won a top honour at Crufts after battling against an 'Alan Shearer injury'. Carol Parry, of Cranberry Lane, Darwen, thought Chandlimore Heaven Can Wait's show career was over after a cruciate ligament was ruptured when it was trapped under a
THREE competitions are being launched to help Rossendale Museum celebrate its centenary. One of the much-loved mascots of the museum, in Whitaker Park in Rawtenstall, is the baby elephant which has been a favourite with visitors for generations. For the
A CAMPAIGN group bidding for better practice in Rossendale Council has collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition in less than a week. Members of the Rossendale Chartists, a non-political group geared to improving standards in Rossendale Council
A PEOPLE power protest took to the streets of Ramsbottom as parents and children made a noisy bid to save St Paul's School. Bury Metro commissioned a review of primary schools and it made three proposals for the Ramsbottom schools. The options are: close
REVELLERS planning to hold street parties to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee have been warned they could face a hefty bill. Unless Lancashire County Council alters its criteria for closing roads, party organisers will have to take out third-party
AROUND six months ago The Citizen published my letter highlighting my experiences of pen friendship and the International Pen Friend Club. As a result of this letter being published in your newspaper many readers have contacted me and the club has been
AS a councillor for Central Ward I welcome the announcements by Lancashire Police to tackle kerb crawling and prostitution in Preston. The councillors from Central, Deepdale and St Matthew's wards have met the police on several occasions in the last year
A THREE-year strategic plan for the criminal justice system in Lancashire has been unveiled. And one of the county's top judges has said the initiative will help achieve the Government stated aim of reducing crime and tackling the causes of crime. The
THE head porter at Queen's Park Hospital in Blackburn was running a contraband cigarettes and tobacco business from his locker, a court heard. Blackburn magistrates were told that Brian Robert Duguid sold 3,000 cigarettes and 15 kilograms of hand rolling
SUPPORTERS of the fight to keep Lancashire's care homes open were travelling to London today to take their campaign to the House of Commons. Labour MPs from Lancashire and executive members of the Lancashire Care Association were meeting to discuss the
IN The UniBond First Division, Rossendale's trip to Kendal Town fell victim to the weather but they will hope to get their home clash against Workington on tomorrow night. And, in the NWCL Division One, Ramsbottom's trip to Newcastle Town was postponed
EVEN the prompting of player-manager John Bailey in the midfield mud at Victoria Park could not inspire Nelson to salvage anything from the NWCL Division Two encounter. Once again the Blues failed to convert their chances and were punished when Chadderton
CREATIVE accountancy produced a surprise boost for Tottington High School. Business recovery specialist Gareth Pugh from accountants Levy Gee in Manchester was left with a large quantity of pattern books and fabric swatches after the failure of a small
A MAN is to appear in court today charged with the murder of a Prestwich father, who planned to get married later this year. Nathaniel Jacobs suffered a number of stab injuries to his head and body after the attack at an office in Hulme on Wednesday afternoon
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Antiquarians Society, Todmorden Town Hall, 7.30pm. Speaker: Geoffrey Washington. "My Fair Lady," by Burnley's Basic Junior Theatre School, The Mechanics, Manchester Road
LOUISE, the eternal pop princess (if you'll excuse the pun) has some good news for all her fans in Blackburn when she appears at King George's Hall on Thursday. "I want everyone to come along and just enjoy themselves," she says. "It really is a Greatest
LANCASHIRE'S chief emergency planning officer Mike Wagstaff is to retire after having been with the County Council for 17 years. Mr Wagstaff joined the Emergency Planning Section of the County Council in 1985 following 27 years service in the Armed Forces
WITH regard to the impending closures of homes for the elderly, I'm surprised that the government has not asked its billionaire and millionaire cronies for the £14million required for their renovation. Incidentally, how much is it costing to support the
CAN I ask Councillor Tim O'Kane (Letters, February 20) if he is proud of the way his party has managed the health service since coming to power in 1997? Even the Prime Minister has had to admit that the problems of the health service are worse now than
THE NHS is taking a lot of stick at present and, no doubt, some of it is probably right. However, when I was visiting an 80-year-old friend who became ill, a request by phone brought her GP rather speedily. He said she needed hospitalisation. The ambulance
FIREMEN risked their lives tackling a massive blaze at a Leigh garage early today as flames engulfed dangerous acetylene cylinders. Firefighters spent several minutes in the Montfords Yard corrugated metal building on Jury Street before they noticed the
REVELLERS planning to hold street parties to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee have been warned they could face a hefty bill. Unless Lancashire County Council alters its criteria for closing roads, party organisers will have to take out third-party
Leigh RMI 0 Nuneaton 1 By David Magilton: STEVE Waywell launched a stinging attack on the state of the Hilton Park pitch after witnessing his side lose their first game in eight outings. The result hinged on a controversial penalty decision after just
IPSWICH boss George Burley has turned up the heat ahead of Wednesday's crunch relegation battle with Rovers at Ewood. The Blues go into the match on the back of three straight defeats and, with vital games against fellow strugglers Bolton and Middlesbrough
POLICE in Lancashire are flying high after a £1million government cash boost for a new helicopter. The Home Office announced on Tuesday that Lancashire was one of just four police forces in the country to have been granted the money. The funds will mean
A BRAVE six-year-old who underwent a traumatic bone-marrow transplant released balloons at his primary school yesterday as part of the Gift for Life campaign to encourage people to become donors. Michael Gardener, of Newark Place, Fulwood, has been in
LANCASHIRE'S newest police chief has told The Citizen of his plans for the job he describes as 'the best in policing'. When current Chief Constable Pauline Clare leaves her post in July after seven years at the top, her deputy Paul Stephenson will take
A PENWORTHAM church-goer is set to tickle the ivories in a marathon task to raise funds for a Leyland church. Janet Calman, 36, will be playing the organ non-stop at the United Reformed Church, Hough Lane, later this month, in a 12-hour charity stint.
PRESTON councillors have teamed up to hit out at county council plans to axe three quarters of the area's homes. The local councillors put their heads together at a full council meeting on Thursday, February 28, and agreed to condemn the decision which
A MOTHER has threatened to take her daughter out of the education system if she is not given the high school place she requested. Single mum Adele Lally, 31, of Kennett Drive, Leyland, says she will be forced to give up her full-time job if her daughter
POLICE were drafted in from all over Greater Manchester to deal with rowdy Burnley fans who were causing a disturbance after the Clarets victory over Stockport on Saturday. A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed the team's promotion-hopeful
OVERSEAS tourism journalists learned all about Pendle's rich history as part of a Great Northern Countryside tour. The journalists, who came from as far afield as Canada, South Africa and Australia all write for major newspapers, magazines and travel
A PROJECT manager has been appointed to oversee Pendle's second Sure Start programme for Waterside, Vivary Bridge and part of Marsden wards. Clive Acraman has more than 20 years experience working with multi-agency settings and in partnership initiatives
PRESTON have one hand on the championship trophy after this comfortable victory. With their nearest rivals Bowdon also winning, the scene is set for a potential title clinching fixture against Bebington this weekend,writes Richard Sullivan.. This win
IT was a considerable step up for Wesleyan Methodists in Blackburn when in 1879 they left the humble preaching room in Dukes Brow -- identified in this pre-war photograph (above, right) by the church-style windows of the Dukes Hall above Frank Pinder's
A MAN was found unconscious by firefighters after he returned into a smoke filled room and was overcome by fumes. William Hewitt, 45, of Cobden Street, Nelson, had dozed off in the living room of his flat at Forest House at 7pm yesterday. He was woken
STAND-UP comedy fans are in for a barrel of laughs thanks to South Ribble Borough Council. Some of the country's top comedy acts are set to come to Leyland, in a special programme of exciting events. The best stand-up acts from the North West city circuits
A WOMAN was robbed while she sat in her car, by a thief who smashed a window with a brick. The woman was in her car at Ringway House, in Preston town centre, at around 2.50pm on Thursday, March 7, when she was approached by a man asking for the time.
A PRESTON DJ who started out as an English language student is getting a shot at the big time after being picked to play at one of the most famous clubs in the world. George Thompson, 26, launched the nightclub Feel eight years ago with fellow student
FURY erupted today over the very first school league tables as head teachers branded them rubbish, meaningless and unfair. East Lancashire heads slammed the tables as having no bearing on the real success of a school.
A MAN was due to appear in court today accused of kidnapping his former partner. The charges faced by Adrian Clemson, 33, of Rishton, relate to an alleged incident which began when the 30-year-old woman left Daisyfield baths, in Blackburn, at 8.15am on
AN alcoholic who attacked an unidentified man who then staggered away, has been jailed for four months. Burnley Crown Court heard how Alexander McLean, 35, who started drinking when he was just eight years old, knocked back 12 litres of White Lightning
COMMUNITY wardens who will patrol the streets in some of Hyndburn's most deprived wards began a training scheme today to prepare them for their new roles. One warden has been designated specifically for Woodnook and Church Kirk and the rest of the team
Thursday, March 14 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohens Chemist, 63 Whalley Range; To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 6.30pm: Donald Wood Ltd, 53 Fishmoor Drive;
Tuesday, March 12 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst Road; Geloo Bros, Cleaver
STAN Ternent has added some firepower to his front line with the signing of David Johnson on a month's loan. The Nottingham Forest striker, who played under Ternent at Bury before being sold to Ipswich for £1.1 million, will be joining the Turf Moor club
EVERTON'S ignominious exit from the FA Cup at the Riverside yesterday afternoon may persuade the Clarets to renew their interest in former England star Paul Gascoigne. The midfielder played the full 90 minutes against his former team in what is expected
BURNLEY'S reserves start a busy week with the visit of Sheffield United to Turf Moor this evening. And with a trip to Birmingham on Wednesday night manager Ronnie Jepson admitted this morning: "We won't decide on the team until later in the day because
A LOOK at the key moments and stats from the game against Stockport. BURNLEY MARLON BERESFORD: Got the clean sheet he deserved for previous displays without actually having a serious save to make...7 MARK McGREGOR: Can be very pleased with his League
BLACKBURN Rovers are facing a major fixture headache which could seriously jeopardise their survival bid following the outcome of the FA Cup quarter finals over the weekend. Chelsea's 4-0 win over Tottenham and Newcastle's 1-1 draw with Arsenal now means
A SIGNED Phil Neville England shirt is one of a number of items up for auction by Shakers as part of the Save Our Shakers Appeal. Committee vice-chairman Neville Neville is father of England and Manchester United defender Phil as well as his brother Gary
RECEPTION class pupils at a Darwen school are being given a little help from their friends when it comes to getting used to school life. Teacher Nicola Monaghan has helped set up a 'Buddy Scheme' at Darwen County Primary School to assist the new infants
RESIDENTS who claim their road has become a 'racetrack' are set to fail in their bid to have it made one-way. Narrow Oakley Road links Haslingden Road to Hargreaves Drive and the Oakley Estate in Rawtenstall. Nearly 30 residents signed a petition organised
HAVING just read four accounts of the English Civil War, I was both suprised and fascinated by the accounts of the Battle of Preston which I confess to knowing virtually nothing about before. Preston was much smaller than it is now with a population of
SUPPORTERS of the fight to keep Lancashire's care homes open were travelling to London today to take their campaign to the House of Commons. Labour MPs from Lancashire and executive members of the Lancashire Care Association were meeting to discuss the
RESIDENTS at a Blackburn block of flats were left without water for over two days. The problems began on Friday when the taps ran dry at Bowland House at Larkhill. And the water stopped flowing again on Saturday morning until contractors, brought in by
A TERRIFIED motorist who had just collected his son from a cricket match looked in horror as another car hurtled head-on towards him at 70mph. Blackburn magistrates heard that the high-powered Sierra Cosworth, driven by Paul Anthony Waring, slammed into
TRADING standards chiefs are warning Blackburn Rovers fans to stay away from unofficial merchandise celebrating the team's Worthington Cup triumph in Cardiff last month. And Blackburn with Darwen Council said that people caught selling them, or even involved
GUJARATI Muslims from East Lancashire have visited the High Commissioner of India to voice concern over the recent troubles in the western state. The death toll has risen to well above 500 since violence broke out between Hindus and Muslims more than
A MAN bit a policeman on the leg as he was being restrained by three officers in the custody suite at Blackburn police station. But Blackburn magistrates were told that Barry Ormandy claimed to suffer from blackouts and could remember nothing between
SHOCKED staff at ball bearings giant FPT in Blackburn have been told their factory is set to close after a buy-out by the West Midlands-based Wyko group. The company, formerly Fenner Power Transmission, based on Philips Road at the Whitebirk Industrial
HOSPITAL bosses today defended their performance after they were labelled amongst the worst in the country. According to a new Good Hospital Guide produced by the Mail on Sunday, Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Queens Park Hospital, Blackburn, and Burnley
GREAT Harwood seek to try and reclaim some better form at Skelmersdale United tonight after failing to make the most of their Division One trip to Atherton. Great Harwood followed two improved performances with a display that left manager Denis Underwood
CLITHEROE'S season was summed up in one game at Winsford. Lee Sculpher's men made a poor start, picked up and played some excellent football but missed chances and were ultimately hit by a late goal. That really is the story of the Blues NWCL Division
WHILE results are going against Bacup at the moment manager Brent Peters is hoping their future is in good hands. Facing one of the high-riding sides in Alsager his team, with more than a sprinkling of young talent, only fell due to two minutes of madness
COLNE player-boss John Lister read the riot act to his players before the kick-off but it didn't stop them suffering their sixth red card in their last 10 games. And Gordon Dugdale's Colne debut looks like being his final game after lasting just 30 minutes
JAMIE Speare gave Mark Brennan a massive hug at the end of the UniBond League Cup semi-final for saving his bacon. Substitute Brennan, who recently returned to the Crown Ground from a management position at St Helens, fired home the winner in the 54th
PRESTON climbed to within one place of the play-offs thanks to a Richard Creswell brace which sunk Rotherham. The former Premiership striker proved that there can be life after Jon Macken as Preston picked up all three points. It was a vital win - especially
A LOCAL college has won a prestigious national award after beating off tough competition from across the country. Leyland's Runshaw College scooped a Beacon Award for its business school -- with around £4,000 prize money. Principal of the college, Bernard
A LOOK at one of East Lancashire's local schools. SCHOOL REPORT: The school motto 'Here to Learn' refers not only to learning within academic subjects but also learning the skills needed to become reponsible members of society. We provide a caring, supportive
AT first glance a point from Ninian Park seems to be an excellent result for the Seasiders. However many would have hoped for all three points when, after half an hour, Pool were two goals up. In the end though, despite the early advantage Blackpool did
