Archive

  • EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Thursday, May 15

    A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Pendle Borderline Theatre Company present "Arabian Nights," Civic Theatre, Nelson, 7.30pm. Carers Time Out Day, Accrington Town Hall, 10am-3.30pm. Introduction to Birdwatching

  • No action on bins emptying

    I HAVE tried to contact people concerned with emptying wheelie bins, but with no luck, I may add. I have been told on every telephone call I made the 'inspector' will call you about your complaint, but no-one ever has. So I asked to speak to the relevant

  • Party has reneged on promises

    I AM accused by Coun Dave Smith (Letters, May 7) of giving advice to pensioners when I only compared the hardship and trauma inflicted on Mr Thomas Bywater by a callous council increasing his home help charges to the freebies and care asylum seekers are

  • Anti-war activists should get real

    DOES anyone really believe that President George Bush will bother one jot about the posturing of anti-war activists here in Blackburn? It is, therefore, laughable for people like Parvaiz Awan (ex-Tory councillor), Graham Carter (Stop the War Coalition

  • Commission, the next logical step

    BELIEVE it or not, I am glad the scientists at the Roslin Institute have released their findings that "fish feel pain." Why? Because it is moving research on the matter and, therefore, the debate, forward. I believe it is good science, though I disagree

  • Running for charity

    AN Atherton woman is entering the Greater Manchester Run on May 26 in memory of a friend who lost his life to cancer. Diane Anderton of Millers Lane hopes to raise money to contribute towards funding better care and treatment for cancer sufferers. She

  • One anniversary we were all allowed to forget

    IT looks like it's going to be a silly summer of transfer speculation as far as Burnley is concerned. But at the moment, it's for all the wrong reasons. Stan Ternent has already released 13 members of his squad in an effort to hack down the wage bill.

  • Man killed at rail crossing crash

    A TRAIN has hit a car on a level crossing in Haslingden killing a man. A Land Rover was hit by the train at Irwell Vale Road, Haslingden, on Wednesday afternoon. A woman passenger in the car escaped without serious injury. Both were given medical treatment

  • Council bans picture phones

    MOBILE phones that take pictures have been banned from leisure centres over fears they could be used by paedophiles to take snaps of youngsters. Council bosses in Blackburn with Darwen have placed a temporary ban on the phones while they review their

  • Academy boys top of class

    BLACKBURN Rovers were crowned the Under 19 champions of England last night after a superb defensive display saw them win this national play-off final. Villa's hopes of overturning a 5-3 first leg deficit were dashed by a magnificent Rovers rearguard superbly

  • Killer's 'trance' claims disputed

    CLAIMS that a Burnley woman was in a depressed and suicidal trance when she shot her husband's mistress dead in a beauty salon were dismissed by a psychiatrist giving evidence as part of an Old Bailey murder trial. Prosecution consultant psychiatrist

  • Child sex video case pair cleared

    A COUPLE have been cleared of all allegations surrounding a child sex video said to have been taken in a Padiham park. Convicted burglar Dean Gary Marie, 36, of Colne Road, Burnley, was found not guilty of making an indecent photo of a child between June

  • Newby set for exit as Shakers lose out

    BOURNEMOUTH 3, SHAKERS 1: SHAKERS have been dealt a massive morale blow on top of their play-off semi-final second leg, defeat at Bournemouth with star striker Jon Newby admitting he may quit the club at the end of the campaign. There will be a full report

  • The dream is over for sorry Shakers

    BOURNEMOUTH 3, SHAKERS 1 (agg 3-1): THERE was no hiding Andy Preece's frustration after Shakers' promotion hopes were crushed on the south coast. The Bury boss hit the target in the Third Division play-off semi-final but Gareth O'Connor's early strike

  • Mayor protest Libs 'won't take seats'

    COUNCILLORS who are against the election of Pendle's first Asian Mayor today revealed they would not take their seats at a council meeting until after he has been voted in. The Liberal Democrat group, which has 23 members on the authority, have already

  • Child care centre plans put on hold

    PLANS by Sure Start to buy land at Leach Street, Colne, with the aim of creating a child care centre were put on hold when councillors decided more consultation was needed. The Estates Department of the Burnley Health Care Trust were appointed agents

  • Lethal drugs cocktail killed man

    A 38-YEAR-OLD man died after a lethal cocktail of prescribed and illegal drugs, an inquest heard. The hearing was told how Andrew Purdie, of the Hendley Hotel, Queen Street, Colne, had 'dabbled' in and abused different drugs over the years. Mr Purdie

  • Tropical touch for town's carnival

    A TROPICAL carnival is promised when Hot in Atherton comes to town on Saturday. Atherton Market will be the venue for the fun festival, the first in the Wigan and Leigh borough. The Real Macaws will play samba and Rio carnival inspired tunes, and shoppers

  • Five years ago

    GLADYS Kenyon and Ruby Maden planned to make it two in a row when they went for the title of Hyndburn's most talented senior citizens. The Oswaldtwistle duo's song and dance routine impressed judges the previous year.

  • Wannabe a Gareth?

    THE organisers of a summer festival are looking for the next Gareth Gates when they launch their very own Pop Idol auditions. The auditions to be held on June 9 and 10 at Accrington Town Hall will choose eight 'wannabes' to perform live on stage in front

  • Royle eyes Drissa

    IPSWICH manager Joe Royle has confirmed his interest in Burnley's out of contract defender Drissa Diallo. The Mauritanian, who made his debut against Ipswich, has yet to sign a new deal offered by the Clarets. Royle said: "He's one that we know about

  • Bid to honour legend Jimmy

    A GROUP of Burnley legends are leading the call for the Bob Lord Stand to be named after Jimmy Adamson. The club has been thinking of ways to honour the manager who last took them to the top flight. Burnley's Division Two champions of 1973, who celebrated

  • Russ hits historic heights

    RECORD breaker Russell Whalley didn't just stun the Ribblesdale Wanderers bowlers on Saturday - he surprised himself as well. The Great Harwood batsman hit a mammoth 214 in the Ramsbottom Cup tie, the highest score in Ribblesdale League history. "It hasn't

  • Production with a comical twist

    ST JOSEPH'S Players are performing a play with a comical twist this week. The production Brush With a Body by Maurice McLoughlin, and produced by June Lee, is one not to miss. Action centres on the three Walling siblings, psychiatrist Henry, headmistress

  • The dream is over for sorry Shakers

    BOURNEMOUTH 3, SHAKERS 1 (agg 3-1): THERE was no hiding Andy Preece's frustration after Shakers' promotion hopes were crushed on the south coast. The Bury boss hit the target in the Third Division play-off semi-final but Gareth O'Connor's early strike

  • A new twist on the Underworld

    A VILLAGE'S own Billy Elliott will star in the Three Towns Operatic Society's latest production. Creative Culcheth schoolboy Ben Warbis, 14, will design and perform his own movement routine as Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry, in Orpheus in the Underworld

  • Question the county council has to answer

    SHOCKING as was the case of a 13-year-old East Lancashire girl being indecently assaulted by child advice worker Martin Tibbett after he spent months "grooming" her after she rang a county council children's help line, just as outrageous is that someone

  • Rovers warn clubs off

    BLACKBURN Rovers today issued a firm hands-off warning to any clubs thinking of launching a summer move for Ewood number one Brad Friedel. Arsenal and Manchester United are both reported to be ready to go head-to-head in a two-way battle for the 31-year-old

  • Footpaths repair

    FOOTPATHS next to Step Back Brook, Tockholes, will be repaired by Blackburn with Darwen Council. It means the paths will be closed for six months or for as long as repairs take. Alternative routes are available in the village. Copies of the council order

  • School cash boost

    STAFF at a village school are celebrating a cash boost for the second successive year, as reward for good teaching and commitment. Teachers at Tockholes Primary have received a School Achievement Award worth £1,750 for their dedication to raising standards

  • Daring fundraisers' towering challenge

    CHARITY fundraisers are on the lookout for daredevil volunteers prepared to abseil down one of Rossendale's most famous landmarks. The Children's Hospital Appeal Trust is looking for people to take part in the charity event this weekend. The abseil will

  • 'I'm going to stay in bomb blast city'

    A FORMER Blackburn College lecturer living in Riyadh today said he will stay put despite Monday's bomb blasts. Official reports say that around 200 people were injured and 29 killed after suicide bombers targeted the Saudi capital. Rashed Riaz, 35, had

  • How Denise survived darkest days

    A PHOTOGRAPH of her son scoring a cup final goal helped Denise Hendry through her darkest hours. The words "Please get well soon mum" and "I love you mum," written by her son, Kyle, on his T-shirt touched the nation. A year later and now out of her wheelchair

  • Council bans picture phones

    MOBILE phones that take pictures have been banned from leisure centres over fears they could be used by paedophiles to take snaps of youngsters. Council bosses in Blackburn with Darwen have placed a temporary ban on the phones while they review their

  • Winger Payne quits Stanley

    ACCRINGTON Stanley winger Russell Payne has decided that Nationwide Conference football is not for him. After four years at the Crown Ground, Payne feels that he cannot meet the demands of playing in a national division due to work and family commitments

  • Dabbling with drugs, the deadly perils

    THE tragic death of a talented young Bury man was a warning to others of the risks of dabbling in drugs, an inquest was told. Ross Chant, aged 29, of Greenhill Road, Bury, was found unconscious by his mother in his loft bedroom with a syringe nearby.

  • An udder drink?

    SCIENTISTS have discovered that cows produce two types of milk -- morning milk and evening milk. The evening milk contains a sedative which helps the offspring to rest. This set me wondering if all mammals including humans produce this night sedative

  • Plan to bring our reservoirs back to life

    THESE days there is much more of an understanding between ecologists and industry. There is a project by United Utilities to create a wildlife habitat on land around three reservoirs round Longridge. The three Alston reservoirs date back to the 1840s

  • Looking for my good neighbour

    WHILE I was away on holiday last September my neighbour, Mr Christopher Nield, who won an award for being a good neighbour, moved away, but to where I don't know. Can readers put me in touch with him as I've got a bad illness and Chris was always there

  • Friendly library a credit to town

    RECENTLY, I visited the newly-refurbished Blackburn Library, with two of my grandchildren. It proved so easy for the children to find out the location of books using the computer system. Staff were friendly and helpful. The welcoming atmosphere was very

  • Young guns land title

    TEAM boss Rob Kelly last night hailed his Academy heroes after Blackburn Rovers were crowned the Under 19s champions of England. Kelly's young guns completed a magnificent few days for the club by triumphing in their FA Premier Academy League national

  • Rovers warn clubs off

    BLACKBURN Rovers today issued a firm hands-off warning to any clubs thinking of launching a summer move for Ewood number one Brad Friedel. Arsenal and Manchester United are both reported to be ready to go head-to-head in a two-way battle for the 31-year-old

  • Good to gloss over unhappy day

    I DON'T know about you, but I'm terrible when it comes to remembering birthdays and anniversaries. Every year without fail, one of my relatives has to settle for a 'sorry it's late' card after an important date in the calendar escapes my attention. But

  • 'Hands off our village'

    RESIDENTS in a rural community turned out in force last night to tell developers in no uncertain terms: "Hands off our village." Around 200 villagers packed into Worsthorne's St John the Evangelist Church for a planning meeting which was originally due

  • Tools taken in aerospace raid

    THIEVES who broke into an aerospace factory stole almost £200,000-worth of tools and aerospace blades. Police in Pendle are appealing for help in tracking down two white men who were seen driving off in a dark-coloured Sherpa type van, which could possibly

  • Ten years ago

    SCHOOLGIRL Lisa Greenhow went right to the top of Primet High School, Colne, after winning a raffle. The 11-year-old's prize was to become headteacher for the day.

  • College holding open day

    ACCRINGTON and Rossendale College is to hold an open day for people interested in a career in health, social and child care. The event, between 1pm and 3pm next Monday, will be held in the main hall of the college's Sandy Lane site, Accrington. The event

  • Security van gang raid plea

    POLICE today retraced the steps of a vicious gang who assaulted two guards before raiding a security van for thousands of pounds of cash. Detectives hope the move will bring forward new witnesses about the robbery at the Co-op supermarket in Great Harwood

  • Aimee's giant step towards dance dream

    A CLITHEROE schoolgirl who dreams of becoming a ballerina has won a place at the Royal Ballet School in Manchester. Aimee Williamson, 11, of West View, has landed a place as an associate of the prestigious dance academy. S he has also won a scholarship

  • A real stimulus for excellence

    THOSE of us who learned arithmetic in the days when the main incentive schools had for good performances was the good, old-fashioned dedication of their staff will be able to reckon without calculators what it costs taxpayers now that cash bonuses are

  • Bid to honour legend Jimmy

    A GROUP of Burnley legends are leading the call for the Bob Lord Stand to be named after Jimmy Adamson. The club has been thinking of ways to honour the manager who last took them to the top flight. Burnley's Division Two champions of 1973, who celebrated

  • Firm's profits up and growing

    CLITHEROE-based conservatories group Ultraframe is predicting further growth after announcing increased profits for the first half of the year. The company said its pre-tax profits had risen to £9.1 million from £8.8 million on a turnover of £63 million

  • Healthy eating

    A NUTRITION and healthy eating course will be held at Darwen's Holistic Therapy Centre next month. Vanda Croft, manager, said: "It will promote healthy eating and teach people how to cook food and gain the maximum health benefit. "We will give practical

  • Natasha stars

    A CRITICALLY acclaimed Darwen singer will headline at this year's Music Live festival. Natasha Jones, formerly of duo Pooka, will take to the stage at the two-day event at the end of May. Renowned for her powerful yet delicate melodies, Natasha's forthcoming

  • Bees nest man stung by late bill

    A MAN who had a bees' nest removed from his home felt the sting when a bill for the work arrived on his doorstep - eight months later. Richard Smytheman, 56, of Garden Village, Darwen, said he had forgotten all about the work by the time the bill arrived

  • Groups get free training

    VOLUNTARY and community groups in Rossendale are being offered a series of free training courses and workshops. The sessions will take place at the Mary Hindle Resource Centre in Bury Road, Haslingden. A cultural diversity workshop took place on Saturday

  • Greener living is aim of activity session

    RESIDENTS living in Ramsbottom are being given the chance to participate in a series of one-off activities to promote greener living as part of Environment Week. The borough is planning an action packed programme of events and activities aimed at all

  • 'I didn't do it' says driver

    A BUS driver accused of groping a teenage passenger and later stopping the vehicle to apologise told a court: "I didn't do it." Mohammed Akbar, 39, was working for Rossendale Transport, said he did not touch the 17-year-old girl in any way. Akbar, who

  • 'Drugs' kiosk may be moved

    TELECOM bosses have promised to consider moving a phone box after residents claimed it was been used as a drugs hideout. As well as being vandalised several times in the last two years, it has been claimed that the phone box, near to a playground off

  • Birth pill link to 'mystery' death of girl, 19

    THE death of a 19-year-old girl whose heartbroken father collapsed after hearing of her tragic end has been linked to her taking the pill. The family of Gemma Leigh had described her death as a "complete mystery". But at an opening of an inquest into

  • Boots bosses' make apology

    HIGH street store Boots has put its money where its mouth is by apologising with a £250 cheque after a manager asked charity collectors to move on, claiming they were turning customers away. One of Blackburn with Darwen mayor Tony Humphrys handed over

  • Our boys get set for Basra

    SCOUTING stealthily through disused houses and scrutinising empty lanes in North Yorkshire could seem a world away from the sweltering volatile streets of Iraq. But East Lancashire lads are now training intensely in a mock-up village at Catterick Garrison

  • Darwen move to second

    AFTER a frustrating start to the season, captain Chris Lowe was pleased that his Darwen side was able to complete a game on Saturday - and take 15 points from it into the bargain. The 117-run win over Fleetwood pushed them into second spot in the Northern