A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Please check venue due to Christmas holidays. Dancing with Brian Kenyon, Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall. Malc and Co, Adelphi Hotel, Avenue Parade, Accrington. "Scrooge
FOUR fire crews were called out to a suspected gas leak at Thwaites Brewery, Penny Street, Blackburn. A police officer was first to arrive on the scene after a worker spotted a cloud of gas on the work floor. The suspected nitrogen leak turned out to
COUNCILLOR Kevin Connor (Letters, December 10) hits the nail firmly on the head with regard to the unfair distribution of any large cash dispersal, be it from Europe or otherwise, within Blackburn with Darwen. The dictatorial council executive is only
THE National Canine Defence League (NCDL) will be offering free microchipping and neutering when their roadshow visits Blackburn and Darwen early in the New Year. The show will be promoting neutering as a means of reducing the large number of stray and
I TOO agree with Tom Sharratt and Simon Entwistle (Letters, November 13 and October 31) about the book, "The Road to Nab End." I can pick lots of holes in William Woodruff's autobiography and I think his "photographic memory" is more a case of poetic
LABOUR bosses are preparing to chose a woman to contest Burnley in the next General Election, following the retirement of MP Peter Pike. A meeting of party members has already been held to discuss an all-female shortlist as part of the drive to increase
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today backed Hakan Sukur to bounce back from the freak training ground accident which cast a shadow over yesterday's stunning 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Ewood. Rovers recorded one of their finest results under
MINUTE-by-minute match action from Rovers game against Manchester United at Ewood Park. FULL-TIME: Utd had their final push on goal - but Friedel the saviour collected well The fans are going mad, an excellent win an performance by Rovers. Rovers continue
AN unofficial Christmas lights display in Burnley is proving to be so popular it has been given a formal switch on time. Neighbours in Chingford Bank are drawing in crowds from all over East Lancashire and beyond with their festive light show. Mark Robinson
LABOUR bosses are preparing to chose a woman to contest Burnley in the next General Election, following the retirement of MP Peter Pike. A meeting of party members has already been held to discuss an all-female shortlist as part of the drive to increase
AN OPERATION to crack down on criminals in Pendle as part of a pre-Christmas crime blitz is continuing. Operation Freeze was unveiled during a special meeting between police, traders and others at Nelson Town Hall earlier this month. The clampdown, which
THE famous sons and daughters of Pendle are being asked to help promote the borough. And an organisation responsible for the promotion of Pendle are asking people to help find more of them. The Pendle Partnership chairman, Dennis Mendoros OBE, said: "
BURY Metro has announced details of refuse collection services during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. They are as follows: Wednesday, December 25, will be collected on Monday, December 23; Thursday, December 26, will be collected on Thursday
IT has been a difficult three years for seven-year-old Lauren Richmond after being diagnosed with leukaemia and going through the heartache of losing her hair. But the plucky schoolgirl is hoping to finally put it all behind her to enjoy Christmas with
YOUNGSTERS met Frostie the Snowman at a face painting session to raise cash for St Andrew's Venture Scouts in Burnley town centre. The most popular designs were claret and blue for Burnley supporters and stars from the World Wrestling Federation.
A LUCKY shopper who went to Iceland Frozen Foods to stock up for Christmas ended up driving away a new Renault Clio Provence car. Pauline Saddington, of Percival Street, Darwen, entered a free prize draw during a special festive shopping day at the Blackburn
HUNDREDS of homes in Church were left without electricity for more than 18 hours yesterday after a fault on an underground cable. The power went off around 11.30pm on Saturday and was not fully restored until 6pm yesterday. Two teams of United Utilities
BLACKPOOL Football Club has announced it has signed Bolton duo Colin Hendry and Leam Richardson on a month's loan from Premiership side Bolton Wanderers. "Henry will add valuable experience at the back and has recovered form a recent calf injury while
ANGRY Gareth Taylor is to appeal against his first ever red card in Burnley colours. And he said: "Paul Smith is going to support me." Taylor, scorer of Burnley's first goal, explained: "Barry Ashby came through the back of me, I was upset by the challenge
CLARETS manager Stan Ternent delivered a blunt Christmas message to the board after the 4-2 defeat at Gillingham, as he said: "Show me the money." Having seen his patched up team concede ten goals in two matches, he is asking chairman Barry Kilby to dig
THE key stats and moments from the game against Gillingham. BURNLEY MARLON BERESFORD The goals against column must be giving him nightmares. Had it not been for a string of second half saves it would have been six...7 DEAN WEST Had a torrid afternoon
THE fog at the Priestfield Stadium was followed by descending red mist as Burnley's manager and players reacted angrily to another damaging defeat. There is no doubt that Gillingham deserved the win but there is no doubt the Clarets cause was not helped
CLARETS manager Stan Ternent delivered a blunt Christmas message to the board after the 4-2 defeat at Gillingham, as he said: "Show me the money." Having seen his patched up team concede ten goals in two matches, he is asking chairman Barry Kilby to dig
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness backed Hakan Sukur to bounce back from the freak training ground accident which cast a shadow over the stunning 1-0 win over Manchester United at Ewood. Rovers recorded one of their finest results under Souness's management
LAST week I stumbled upon - well, it is the season for one too many - a newspaper article about a woman who is allergic to Christmas. She does not simply dread the commercialism, expense and general going-over-the-top activities of the festive season,
WALKERS could soon be able to enjoy a break at a new cafe which looks likely to be opened at Clough Head visitor centre, Grane Road, Haslingden. The centre is already popular with hikers walking around Calf Hey and Ogden Reservoirs, and owners United
ROSSENDALE Council has been experimenting with different coloured bins in a bid to encourage householders to cut waste in the borough. The scheme is part of the authority's "waste not want not" recycling scheme which it hopes will cut the amount of waste
COUNCIL house tenants in Ramsbottom are being givebn more choice as to when to pay their rent. Currently, direct debit payments can only be collected on the first of each month. However, from the New Year, tenants will be able to switch payments to either
HUNT saboteurs committed to the abolition of hunting with dogs will be targeting the Holcombe Hunt meet at Rivington on Boxing Day. Paul Timpson, spokesperson for the North West Hunt Saboteurs Association, said: "Our protests are designed to remind the
HOMELESS families in Lancashire will have to spend the festive season moving between sheltered accommodation, it was revealed today. Shelter Lancashire said that there are currently 122 families in the region living in temporary accommodation -- with
SAMARITANS in East Lancashire are preparing to answer a call every 10 minutes as people face crisis and despair over Christmas and the New Year. Last year 4.5million people contacted the Samaritans. Volunteers work in shifts, 24 hours a day, 365 days
AN independent brewer today revealed his success story could mean he has to work on Christmas Day to keep pubs stocked with a festive tipple. Robert Bell, 42, runs Three B's in Feniscowles, Blackburn -- one of the smallest breweries in the country --
ACCRINGTON have brought one player in but let another go. Striker Tony Black has been released from his contract by the club, while left winger Rory Prendergast has been signed from UniBond Premier Division rivals Bradford Park Avenue. Black joined Stanley
UNIBOND Premier League leaders Stanley maintained their nine point lead at the top table despite defeat but will rue letting three points slip at Watnall Road. The first half proved to be an even affair with neither side being able to make a break through
COLNE gained their third win in four games with an away victory at Cheadle Town. It was also a day of double celebration for the Reds as Andy Lawson and Dean Grice were appointed as the new management team. Colne were on top from the start playing some
SENDING your child back to school with a houseplant under their arm could be the best way of preparing them for the trials and tribulations of the New Year. Latest research reveals children are happier in a classroom adorned with greenery as it gives
SCHOOL REPORT: The philosophy of the school hinges on a concern for individual students whatever their ability or background, summed up in the school motto "Learn to Live". The school's excellent standing in the community derives from the immense measure
LEARNING to read and write are the basic skills associated with the first lessons of school. But with only five schools in East Lancashire managing to get all their 11-year-old pupils to reach target scores in the English Key Stage Two National Curriculum
FAMILY-owned businesses in Bury are facing a bleak midwinter after claiming their trade has been decimated by sewer repairs. Some workers have been laid off as shops in Sunnybank Road have suffered a severe drop in takings. Vital sewer work by United
SINCE women are half the population but make up only 18 per cent of MPs, they are clearly under-represented in Westminster. Add to that the statistic that in 80 years only 240 of 4,500 MPs elected have been female and it's obvious that a lot needs to
IT'S vital for the prosperity of the town that driving into Blackburn and our other town centres to park and shop is made cheap and hassle free. The simple fact is that people will do their food and other shopping at edge-of-town stores, where there are
MAY I thank Morrison's supermarket in Blackburn for inviting pensioner patrons of their cafe to coffee and mince pies? It was a nice gesture on their part and a welcome start to the festive season. D HIGGERSON (Mrs), Rothesay Road, Blackburn.
I AM serving in Bosnia over the Christmas period and would like to say hello to all my family and friends back in Burnley. I am from the St Hilda's area of Burnley and I am attached to the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) on a six-month
I WONDER why people keep writing books about places like Blackburn and either have a poor memory or they are using street names which do not relate to the actual street and also in the wrong direction. I refer to such authors as William Woodruff and Josephine
I WANT to express my anger and frustration at comments made in the article regarding traders annoyed by the delay in plans for pay parking in Blackburn (LET, December 13). As a town-centre worker, I was disgusted to read that we "hog" the off-street parking
MRS J Madden (Letters, December 10) asks why Darwen councillors have been persuaded by the Health Authority that the Leisure Centre site is the only workable option for the new Darwen Health Centre. Other councillors can speak for themselves, but for
AN elderly woman died after she was injured in an accident with a car as she crossed a road in Leigh. The pedestrian, aged 84, who has not been named, was crossing Wigan Road, near its junction with Norbury Street, when the accident happened at about
THE body of a man was found hanging from a tree at Railway Street in Ramsbottom. The man, who was found at about 10am on Saturday, has not been formally identified. Police say there are no suspicious circumstances. A spokesman said: "The death has now
A CHURCH which was gutted by arsonists two years ago is to be re-born, thanks to a £500,000 rejuvenation scheme. Work to re-build Blackburn's St Anne's RC Church will begin in the next few weeks and is expected to be completed by next Christmas. Today
EWOOD chief Graeme Souness may have to explore the possibility of bringing players in on loan when the Premiership transfer window opens at the start of next month. Souness has been told he will have to generate his own transfer cash through players sales
GRAEME Souness admitted he would have sacrificed a return trip to Cardiff for the three league points picked up against Manchester United yesterday. Blackburn Rovers were drawn against Sir Alex Ferguson's men in the Worthington Cup semi-final after beating
A LOOK at the key moments from the game against Manchester United. ROVERS: FRIEDEL: Had one of his quieter afternoons as the men in front of him worked wonders to keep United at bay. 7 NEILL: Kept a tight grip on Ryan Giggs, so much so that the Welsh
DEFENSIVE strong-man Craig Short today called on Rovers to pull out all the stops in their contract talks with Garry Flitcroft after the Ewood midfielder underlined his importance to the club with a match-winning performance Manchester United. Negotiations
POLICE are concerned for the welfare of a young man who disappeared from Burnley General Hospital. Lee Pamment, 20, was last seen leaving a ward about 7.45am on December 18 and police he may be in Burnley or Colne. He also has relatives in Bradford and
Bury 1 Rochdale 1 by Chris Hall: SHAKERS boss Andy Preece kept his cool despite a crucial handball decision costing his side a vital three points. Jon Newby finally cracked a miserable Rochdale outfit on the hour mark only to see his strike cancelled
CAMPAIGNERS opposed to controversial plans to turn a 7.9 hectare piece of land in Vivary Way, Colne, into an industrial and retail development have called for a public inquiry into the scheme. The proposals to build a garden centre, builders merchants
CHRISTMAS came a week early for 10-year-old Ryan Bentley when his stolen BMX was returned safe and sound. The bike was taken from the porch of his home in Blackburn Road, Rishton, on Sunday, December 8. A picture of the blue and white Barracuda Mojo BMX
A GRANDAD who fought off a serious bug said the thought of spending Christmas with his special Lady had helped him through it. Alan Ridehalgh, of Union Street, Oswaldtwistle, was in hospital with a virus so dangerous that doctors kept him in an isolation
PEOPLE could be relying on lethal electric blankets to keep warm this Christmas, shock research has revealed. Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards department has issued the warning after half of 108 blankets tested in a safety drive failed checks
LOVE is in the air for Britain's most famous turkey after she put a spring back in the step of the country's oldest festive bird. Theresa the turkey's first claim to fame was an appearance in Coronation Street five years ago when she was bought to be
A SECOND health trust in East Lancashire has added its voice to the lobby pushing for fluoridation of the region's water supply. Members of Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust which supplies GPs and local health services, voted in favour of
FORESTRY experts displayed their skills at a series of demonstrations at the Beacon Fell Country Park. Members of the Lancashire County Council Forestry Team demonstrated how they cut and transport timber, and use it to make stiles, steps and bridges.
PACE ace James Anderson will spend Christmas in Burnley before returning to Australia to meet up with England's Test squad. The 20-year-old flew back from Perth at the weekend to attend a service for his grandmother, who died in November, and celebrate
THE closure of Riley Leisure just days before Christmas brought to an end one of the oldest and most famous businesses in East Lancashire's manufacturing history. Business editor Andrew Calvert charts the snooker success story which ended with staff suffering
A FINAL decision on prospective traffic calming measures on Greenway Street, Darwen, will be made by the council in January. Eleven accidents, five involving children, have occurred on the street which runs parallel to Blackburn Road. Councillors pledged
VOLUNTEERS are still being sought by the Darwen Churches Action group to deliver furniture to people in need. The Christmas period is an especially busy time for Darwen's largest local charity, which says young families and people in their first home
RESIDENTS are being urged to turn detective and shop vandals who are targeting Darwen's Christmas lights with an air rifle. Since December 2 when the annual switch-on was performed, a total of 90 bulbs have been smashed. Coun Andy Kay, Blackburn with
BRAVE Bacup schoolgirl Deanna Radcliffe is looking forward to a new beginning in the New Year when she celebrates the milestone of a year in remission. Deanna, six, of Regent Street, was diagnosed with an inoperable tumour behind her right eye in April
THE National Canine Defence League (NCDL) will be offering free microchipping and neutering when their roadshow visits Blackburn and Darwen early in the New Year. The show will be promoting neutering as a means of reducing the large number of stray and
SANTA paid an early visit to Lancashire this week to spread a seasonal recycling message over empty cans and bottles. Father Christmas has donned a green outfit to visits supermarkets throughout the county as part of Lancashire County Council's Christmas
THE Bishop of Blackburn has made a personal plea to Jack Straw not to go to war with Iraq. The plea is particularly heartfelt as the Bishop's 25-year-old son David is currently in the Royal Navy and could be called up for action. The Rt Rev Alan Chesters
A FREE parking scheme has been scrapped because people working for the council were clogging up the spaces, it has been revealed. Blackburn with Darwen Council has revealed that it scrapped the 'free-after-3pm' scheme on Blackburn Market car park when
CHRISTMAS shoppers and revellers have been hit by a taxi fare rise in Blackburn and Darwen two days before Christmas. Private Hire drivers have voted to increase the minimum fare by 30p to £2.30 from today - but the cabs are still cheaper than other areas
A CHURCH which was gutted by arsonists two years ago is to be re-born, thanks to a £500,000 rejuvenation scheme. Work to re-build Blackburn's St Anne's RC Church will begin in the next few weeks and is expected to be completed by next Christmas. Today
A LATE Norton United equaliser denied Darwen a deserved NWCL Division Two victory. The visitors created a number of clear cut chances after taking an early lead through a Dennis Hill cross-cum-shot, however their failure to take any of them proved costly
GREAT Harwood Town comfortably swept aside NWCL Division Two strugglers Daisy Hill by four clear goals. Two strikes in each half disposed of the Westhoughton outfit, however Town's excellent defensive display was what pleased manager John Hughes the most
SHEFFIELD United know the value of playing badly but still winning after Graham Alexander's 58th-minute own goal gave the Blades a 1-0 victory over Preston which maintains their play-off challenge. Alexander headed Michael Tonge's cross into his own net
