AS many of us celebrate Christmas with family, friends and large helpings of turkey and pudding, an international group of young volunteers will be reaching out to strangers. Young people from Ghana, Germany and other parts of the UK will be working as
REGARDING the naming of the new services on the M65, there is only one name that can be used -- Tower Services, Darwen. MALCOLM HAWTREY, Cloister Drive, Darwen.
HOLY Cross College student Eleanor MacIver has been awarded the prestigious Rochdale Childer Award. She was presented with it at a special assembly. The award is a memorial to teacher Miss Duval, who accompanied children evacuated from the Channel Islands
THE parents of a toddler who beat all the odds to survive a horrific accident today spoke of their joy and said: "We feared we would never spend another Christmas together." Youngster Lewis Yates spent almost two weeks in hospital after a horror fall
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today tried to make his peace with the Liverpool fans as he prepares to return to Anfield with Rovers on Boxing Day. Supporters of his former club were angered by comments attributed to the Rovers chief in the build-up to
A THIEF dubbed a "professional and prolific" shoplifter by a judge has been jailed for a total of 19 months. Jason Miles, 31, who has almost 100 previous convictions for theft, appeared before Judge Raymond Bennett at Burnley Crown Court. He had earlier
A JUDGE insisted on sending a burglar to prison for 10 months, a week after the courts were told to punish some housebreakers in the community. Barry Duxbury, 26, had flouted court orders and been to prison before, the town's Crown Court heard. His latest
AN ex-soldier who subjected the mother of his son to a terror attack has avoided a jail sentence. Kevin Catlow, 29, had exploded and beat his former partner Helen Robinson after she sent text messages to numbers she found on his mobile phone, Burnley
A DIRECTOR of a construction company took matters into his own hands during a dispute with a joiner. Blackburn magistrates heard that Adrian Atkinson tried to drag the employee from a van where he was eating his lunch and during the incident there was
AS DEPRESSINGLY predictable and unwanted as a hand-knitted jumper from your grandmother on Christmas Day morning, Burnley's annual winter slump has begun. Regular Clarets-watchers will tell you that 'twas ever thus. It was about a year ago that Burnley's
THE Lancashire Evening Telegraph Lifeline appeal crashed through the £100,000 barrier. The announcement was made by ambulance divisional officer and appeal chairman Ron Blackburn. "Today is a day to cherish in the history of East Lancashire," he said.
WHAT a fantastic performance! After commenting last week that the team were playing to roughly 75 per cent of their potential, we got 110 per cent out of every last man on Sunday. As a result, the Christmas present every Blackburn Rovers fan was hoping
POLICE today urged householders to make sure their homes were secure after gifts worth more than £1,300 were stolen. The thieves helped themselves to wrapped gifts after they walked through the unlocked kitchen door of a house in Brook Street, Rishton
POLICE have a new weapon in the fight against juvenile nuisance -- hand-held video cameras. The equipment is to be used by officers on patrol to catch youngsters engaged in anti-social behaviour. Footage will then be shown to the culprit's parents to
TROUBLED East Lancashire carpets group Gaskell has been given a financial lifeline by its bankers to see the company into the New Year. The firm has suffered borrowing and pension problems and its banking facilities were due to expire on New Year's Eve
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
Bury man Anthony Keane, a non-swimmer, had a lucky escape when he fell into the River Roch. The 40-year-old of Manchester Road was seen by a taxi driver as he fell from Blackford Bridge. The driver informed two passing police dog handlers, Sgt Tommy Flemming
THERE were very contrasting fortunes for Mark Kennedy and Dean West last Saturday and they will do battle at Turf Moor on Boxing Day. Kennedy, scored a splendid solo goal as Wolves forced a 1-1 draw at Millwall, cutting in from the left flank and netting
THE one team that was almost as disappointed as Wolves that they did not finally win promotion to the top flight last season was Burnley. That is because they have got a fantastic record against the Clarets, so good that it almost appears they just have
TWO area board meetings arranged for early in the New Year have been postponed by Bury Council. The Bury West and Prestwich Area Boards had been scheduled to meet on Thursday, January 9, but councillors have to attend a special council meeting. The boards
THE landlord of a Blackburn pub celebrated his first year behind the bar in style. Terry Donnelly, of the Royal Duke Hotel, on Johnson Street, celebrated his first anniversary with regulars, friends and family at a packed party. Terry, 48, took over the
A PUB which closed for three months has found a new landlord. Peter Brinksman, 52, took over the Lidgett Hotel, in Blackburn Road, after it was closed. The previous tenants had left the pub and owner Thwaites had put the pub up for tenancy again. Peter
REGULARS at a Blackburn pub could be forgiven for thinking they were in Lapland thanks to a huge indoor festive mural. Sue Ainsworth, the licensee of the Alexandra Hotel, Dukes Brow, commissioned regular Paul Sotheran to turn the pub into Santa's Grotto
STAN TERNENT has been given the go-ahead to strengthen his Burnley squad with loan players. Clarets chairman Barry Kilby today gave Ternent the news he had been waiting for following the defeat by Gillingham. Kilby said: "Obviously with the injury crisis
A FORMER mill-worker has returned to Darwen after 27 years in New Zealand to visit his sick mother and track down old friends. Stuart Walsh travelled around the world to re-visit his home and family. Stuart, 55, of Tythebarn Street, said: "I do miss my
PROTESTERS have said a Rossendale shoe factory has a fight on its hands after phone masts were placed on its roof. The three T Mobile phone masts on Bacup Shoe, Stacksteads, have left residents worried about possible health implications. Under revised
ARSONISTS set fire to a van belonging to a DJ who was entertaining crowds with festive tunes at The Red Lion Pub, Sale Lane, Tyldesley at 8pm on Saturday night. The Toyota van, parked on the pub's car park, was badly damaged by the fire. Thieves had broken
THE SOUTH East Lancs Cross Country League concluded with its toughest fixture, a tour of the Fitton Hill area in Oldham. This course has several tight turns, muddy sections that sap the strength from a runner's legs, and a steep hill that has to be climbed
RESIDENTS are being asked to turn over a green leaf this year by recycling as much as possible at Christmas. In a bid to reduce waste and improve the environment, Blackburn with Darwen Council are asking the public to become greener and recycle everything
GREEN-FINGERED helpers have come to the aid of an elderly woman who feared she would be evicted for her weed-ridden garden. Margaret Kadic, 80, was terrified that her inability to maintain her Twin Valley Home garden would be a breach of her contract
THE parents of a toddler who beat all the odds to survive a horrific accident today spoke of their joy and said: "We feared we would never spend another Christmas together." Youngster Lewis Yates spent almost two weeks in hospital after a horror fall
ON A frozen pitch that was only just passed playable by Preston referee Mark Hughes, Padiham were made to fight all the way for their 1-0 home win over Staffordshire side Leek CSOB and it needed a real Christmas cracker from the Storks leading goalscorer
CHORLEY may be nearing the end of an eight-day break from matches but manager Mark Molyneaux hasn't allowed his players much chance to rest before Christmas. For the Magpies, who take on Bamber Bridge on Boxing Day, have been training hard for the festive
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman is looking for a positive response from his side at Whitby Town on Boxing Day. Their 2-1 defeat at Hucknall Town on Saturday did not see the gap between the Reds and the rest narrow, they still have a nine point cushion
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Accrington and Blackburn CHA Club meet Cherry Tree pelican crossing, Preston Old Road, Blackburn, 1.30pm for Pleasington (C). Sequence and Ballroom Dancing with Frank
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Line Dancing, Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall. Charity Evening with the Accy Rockers, Oswaldtwistle and Church Conservative Club, 8pm. Proceeds to Accrington and District
IT has been obvious to me since the late 60s and early 70s when I watched Bury at Ewood as a youngster -- that a railway station was the most convenient way of getting to Ewood Park. I went to the England Under-21 game at Ewood last season and people
AS an avid reader, I agree with Mr A Baker's views regarding the invasion of Darwen Library by computers (Letters, December 13). The reference library is no longer a place for quiet study and there is no adequate seating for the elderly and disabled "
I BELIEVE I am right in saying that after a certain time of after 9pm or night drivers are not allowed to sound their horns except in an emergency. But taxi drivers, it seems can't lift themselves from their seat once they have sat down. Many times between
WILMSLOW ALBION ...2, PRESTWICH HEYS ... 3: TWO weeks ago, Heys beat Royton Town in a game that was arguably their best performance of the season. Last Saturday, that was surpassed as they progressed through to the semi-final of the league's major cup
COULD I remind parents of students at university of the Spring Hill Car Club Scholarship Fund? This is a registered charity set up by Spring Hill Car Club for giving grants to East Lancashire students to help with special projects in their university
I SHARE Barbara Clarke's happy memories of Blackburn's cinemas long ago (Letters, November 6). When I was a lad my mum took me to the pictures every Monday night and I used to write up the story of each film for my French homework. Eric Leaver is right
A 53-YEAR-OLD woman was assaulted in Atherton by a conman pretending to have broken down in his car. She was driving along Greendale on her way to work early in the morning when she saw a man standing in the road waving his arms as if he was in distress
A NEW co-ordinator for Bury East has been appointed. Mike Riley will help Bury Council to make sure that local people get the services and kind of community they want. He said: "I have lived in the town for many years and also have family and friends
CHRISTMAS is a time not only for celebrating, but for remembering. And Bury Hospice's Carol Service on Monday was a perfect combination of both. The angelic voices of the choirs of St Andrew's CE Primary School, St Mary's RC Primary School and Gorsefield
GRACEFUL dancer Natalie Berry has proved she is the best junior ballerina in England "barre" none! The talented 12-year-old (pictured), who attends Parklands Dance Studio in Bury, beat off 75 other top contestants from around the country to become the
A CONSORTIUM of local businessmen has won control of Leigh Centurions. The deal finally went through when the Administrator and Rugby Football League agreed to the takeover. It now seems likely that chairman Mike Nolan will stand down after two years
EXPECT the sparks to fly when Steven Gerrard and Garry Flitcroft go head-to-head in a clash of the midfield enforcers at Anfield on Boxing Day. Both men are fiercly competitive individuals who relish the muck and bullets of a midfield scrap. And whoever
BRAD Friedel insists his turbulent time at Liverpool has made him into the player he is today as Rovers gear up for a Boxing Day trip to Anfield. Friedel returns to the home of his former club for the first time since he quit the Reds for Rovers on a
MOTORISTS are being urged to avoid traffic hotspots in Burnley when roadworks begin in the New Year. Major maintenance work will be carried out by Lancashire County Council to reconstruct a culvert which runs along Higgin Street and across Lyndhurst Road
COMMUNITY and voluntary groups in Pendle will be looking forward to a brighter New Year with the news that £20,000 is up for grabs. New support worker Jamil Mohammed has been appointed by Pendle Council to help co-ordinate and support community activities
A DARWEN youngster was looking forward to being reunited with her beloved puppy in time for Christmas morning. Lauren Halliwell, nine, of Snape Street, was devastated when her Staffordshire Bull Terrier Tara disappeared.
POLICE have urged people to be vigilant after a 91-year-old woman was confronted by two intruders. The woman was woken at 2.30am on Monday by thieves who entered the bedroom of her bungalow on Grafton Street, Baxenden. She told the burglars she had pulled
A MOTHER last night spoke of having her premature baby girl home for Christmas after she battled for life and said: "It's a fairy tale come true". Heather Pope was born weighing just 1lb 4oz, only 23 weeks into her mother Pearl's pregnancy. Now, 23 weeks
WHEN Norman Hickey sits down to Christmas lunch with his wife Phoebe tomorrow, he knows it could be their first and last at Northlands Care Home For the Elderly. The turkey, the trimmings, the decorations will all be there -- but for how much longer?
1928: Harry Ramsden opened his first fish and chip restaurant in a hut near Bradford. 1933: Flying Down to Rio premiered in New York and marked the first time Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers had appeared in a feature film together. 1955: Cardiff became
DEAN West hopes to put his red card firmly behind him on Boxing Day as he seeks to help the Clarets return to winning ways. And the club's only ever present player this season admits he is at a loss to explain why the defence is suddenly conceding goals
STAN TERNENT has been given the go-ahead to strengthen his Burnley squad with loan players. Clarets chairman Barry Kilby today gave Ternent the news he had been waiting for following the defeat by Gillingham. Kilby said: "Obviously with the injury crisis
TYLDESLEY East community beat officer, PC Andy Wright will hold surgeries on: Monday -- January 6 &13 (1-3pm) at Lindale Hall, Mosley Common; Tuesdays -- January 4, 14 & 28 (2-3pm) at St John's School, Mosley Common and Wednesdays -- January 8
REFUSE collections and leisure centre opening times will be affected over Christmas and New Year. Bins which would have been emptied on Christmas Day, were picked up on Monday instead (Dec 23). The Boxing Day bins will be emptied on Thursday (Jan 2),
Premier Division: Derby Ht A 4 LLWMC 3; Hamers Arms 5 Church Sp St 2; Rainsough Brew 5 Royal Oak A 2. First Division: Old Tower 3 New Inn Rad 4; Lord Raglan 1 Bridge Tav A 6; Lord Raglan 1 Bridge Tav A 6; Welcome Inn A 7 Derby Arms ntu; R + Crown Rams
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today tried to make his peace with the Liverpool fans as he prepares to return to Anfield with Rovers on Boxing Day. Supporters of his former club were angered by comments attributed to the Rovers chief in the build-up to
U10 Chairman's Cup Round Two: Brandlesholme Warriors B 1 Oxford Grove Tigers 2; North Walkden 1 Farnworth Tigers 3; Boothstown Casuals 0 Bolton County Raiders 7; Boothstown Celtic 6 Leigh RMI 0; Ladybridge Rangers 0 Brandlesholme Warriors A 5; Walshaw
A GANG of thugs smashed a man's face in with a rounders bat and continued beating him while he was unconscious. Police said the attack, in wasteland off Rose Hill Street, Darwen, appeared to be unprovoked. The victim, 22, is being treated in Blackburn
Scunthorpe United 0 Bury 1 - NEW recruit Terry Dunfield watched from the sidelines as Bury made it a profitable couple of days for manager Andy Preece. Dunfield's decision to swap Maine Road for Gigg Lane is a massive boost to Bury's chances of gaining
FIREFIGHTERS rushed to save a stricken dog who had got its head trapped in a metal fence in its garden, in Ballantrae Road, Blackburn. They used a hydraulic machine normally used to free people from wrecked cars to prise the bars apart. The metal jaws
EAST Lancashire teachers could be checking wildlife in Kenya or looking at volcanic eruptions in Iceland if they win an environmental competition. Winners of the 3M Environmental Awards for Teachers will go on a research expedition and work alongside
POLICE have issued the final results from a week-long initiative which targeted travelling criminals and potential terrorists. Operation Atlanta saw Lancashire linking up with the five other North West forces to share intelligence databases. Officers
STAFF and students at a Blackburn college have pulled on their festive charity hats to raise money for the Magic Eye Appeal. Queen's Park Technology College, in Shadsworth Road, organised a raffle and, with help from businesses and schools in Blackburn
A DATE for the end of free on-street parking in Blackburn town centre has been announced -- January 13. Letters have been sent to traders asking them to raise any concerns about the project before it is too late. Short stay spaces in the town centre -
A CONMAN bearing gifts stole a 90-year-old woman's life savings -- and left behind Christmas presents for her as a cruel joke. The woman, of Woodfold Place, Revidge, Blackburn, now has just £10 to survive on over the festive period. Police said the bottle
THEY could just be a group of friends, meeting up for a bit of Christmas cheer. Ushawu Adam has travelled from Ghana, Katherina Goetze from Germany. Others are from the four corners of the UK -- all in Blackburn for one reason. On Christmas Day, these
ORGANISERS of the Magic Eye Appeal are ready to buy the cancer scanners which will revolutionise treatment in East Lancashire. Generous East Lancashire folk smashed the £200,000 fundraising target earlier this month after a record six months of events
CLITHEROE will be hoping the number 13 doesn't prove unlucky for them as they take on bottom-placed Ramsbottom United on Boxing Day in the North West Counties Division One derby. A 0-0 draw at Newcastle Town on Saturday - only the third time the Blues
THE Zone Rangers are on line with a UK first. An elite group of cyber-pupils from five Leigh Education Action Zone schools have launched a unique website. Twenty committed youngsters spent many hours after school in the St Thomas CE computer suite preparing
HEALTH bosses have launched a "Get The Right Treatment" campaign for Bury residents. The aim of project is to alert people to the full range of healthcare options if illness strikes over winter's bleakest months. A guide to the local National Health Service
