Archive

  • Industries hold key to prosperity

    WHILE East Lancashire's traditional heavy dependence on manufacturing may have been balanced in recent years by the growth of commercial and service businesses, the importance of its 'metal bashers' is rightly stressed today by aerospace campaigner Dennis

  • Ram's contrasting fortunes

    RAMSBOTTOM gave an all-time low performance as they exited the Inter League Trophy against a strong Rochdale side. Electing to bat first, the away side suffered an early setback when the prolific Simon Brierley was lbw to Chris Eardley without troubling

  • Students toast their success

    UP TO 200 students from Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School and St Wilfrid's High School and Technology College, Blackburn, have celebrated the success of their annual "The Challenge of Management" conference. The two day event, organised in conjunction

  • Teenager stole jacket

    CLITHEROE landlord John Spalding spotted his wife's missing jacket being worn by a man leaving the pub, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that it was later discovered that two other jackets were missing from the Old Post House Hotel. Gavin

  • G&S group returns after a quarter-century away

    AFTER 25 years of Blackburn's Gilbert and Sullivan Society giving its annual show outside Blackburn, it is finally coming home. The 2004 production The Sorcerer will be performed at the Thwaites Empire Theatre, instead of the Civic Theatre, Oswaldtwistle

  • Stop town hall sick pay

    REGARDING your story about town hall staff being hit by stress (LET, June 11), do they get paid while off sick? If so, try no sick pay. It's surprising how the 22 days off sick on top of annual holidays will soon reduce. Stress? Poppycock! R BARR, Accrington

  • Area slur undeserved

    DURING the trial of an Iraqi asylum seeker accused of the murder of a fellow countryman in Blackburn, defending counsel Jack Price branded the Infirmary area of the town as "notorious" (LET, June 13). In doing so, he calls into question the character

  • Young terror gang targets estate

    AN ATHERTON woman claims a gang of children as young as nine are making her and neighbour's lives a misery -- in a series of intimidating incidents. Mavis Conway, of Byron Grove on the Hag Fold Estate, alleges that a group of kids aged between 9 and 14

  • European success for wardens

    BURY'S town centre warden scheme is set to repeat its success across Europe. Countries like Greece and Italy have been keen to learn how the ground-breaking project can help the community and give people jobs. Mr Ged McGee, Bury Council's head of community

  • Legal watchdog probes coroner

    BURY Coroner Simon Nelson is at the centre of an investigation by the Law Society. And the father of three told the Bury Times that he is relieved the probe into financial irregularities at his law firm in Salford is now out in the open. The Law Society's

  • Keep it clean at the barbie

    BARBECUE lovers in Bury are being given food for thought over the dangers of poorly cooked meat this summer. Hosts preparing food at outdoor events are still failing to pay heed to basic hygiene advice, say members of Bury Council's food safety team.

  • Pupils check out chess scheme

    GIRLS at a school in Burnley have become experts at chess after giving up their lunchtimes to work towards the East Lancashire Chess Proficiency Scheme. The year seven and eight pupils at St Hilda's High School were taught by Trans Age Action volunteer

  • Cemetery bosses issue security vow

    CEMETERY bosses in Burnley have vowed to step-up security in a bid to prevent vandalism and theft. The move comes after widowed pensioner, George Holt, 76, of Brownhill Road, called for a security review after his wife's flowers were stolen from her grave

  • Special service to look back at school history

    FORMER pupils and friends of St Paul's CE Primary School in Ramsbottom are invited to a special church service looking back over its 135-year existence. The school is to close at the end of the summer term as part of a controversial plan by the local

  • Men who beat dad are jailed

    TWO Radcliffe men have been sentenced to a total of 13 years imprisonment for seriously assaulting a married father-of-three, leaving him with permanent injuries. Jeff Cooke, aged 26, was attacked in Water Street outside the Royal Oak public house by

  • Top students receive awards

    ACCRINGTON and Rossendale College highlighted students' success with an awards ceremony. The students joined the college from several schools around Lancashire as part of the School Partnership scheme. Students from Rhyddings High School, Hollins Technology

  • Mix work and pleasure

    COMPANY bosses throughout the borough will be able to mix business and pleasure next week with the launch of a new networking club. Networking for Business will hold its inaugural meeting at the Village Hotel and Leisure Club in George Street, Prestwich

  • Ronaldo deal a text hoax

    FOOTBALL fans across East Lancashire were left choking on their lunch when some unbelievable transfer news broke - Ronaldo has signed for Burnley! Diehard Clarets who subscribe to the club's official text update service were sent a message saying the

  • Brave batsman Iain gives in to injury

    IAIN SUTCLIFFE was willing to bat with a fractured cheekbone to keep Lancashire's National League promotion drive on track at Old Trafford on Sunday. And according to Red Rose skipper Warren Hegg: "Wild horses couldn't have stopped him going out to the

  • Family want end to phone-line "doctors"

    A FAMILY are demanding new rules on medical consultations over the telephone after their daughter's illness was misdiagnosed without an examination. Mr John Berry (44), of Lichfield Drive, Bury, wants an end to phone-line diagnoses after being mistakenly

  • Emergency call fuels fine row

    A GASMAN landed in hot water when he answered an emergency call from a Bury couple aged in their 90s. For after repairing their faulty water system, Tom Greer was shocked to discover traffic wardens had slapped a £60 ticket on his vehicle. Although there

  • Gulf soldier Andy raises alarm

    A GULF war soldier who was maimed in a "friendly fire" attack came to the rescue of his neighbours after spotting their house was on fire. Trooper Andy Julien (18) relies on a wheelchair and crutches to get around after his legs were broken and burned

  • Good clean fun!

    IT was all good clean fun when environment-conscious adults and youngsters helped in a series of community spruce-ups in Bury. The spring cleans took place in the town's Townside, Chesham Fold, Springs, Fernhill and Topping Fold areas. The initiative

  • Second son dies in crash

    TRAGEDY has struck a Bury family for the second time. Less than three years after the loss of their youngest son Gary, Jim and Elaine Martin were this weekend told their second eldest, Paul (29), had been killed in a motorway accident. Paul's BMW saloon

  • Shakers gunning for Vetch victory

    WALES on August 9! No, it isn't my holiday plans! It's where Bury will begin their quest to return to Division Two with a tough away trip to Swansea. Who knows? The last game of the Shakers' season could yet be in Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff

  • Steward's time with dolphins of war

    A NAVY steward today spoke of the remarkable time he spent with dolphins helping to fight the war against Saddam Hussein. Brian Cross sailed out of Portsmouth nine months ago for a 12-week tour of the Mediterranean but ended up involved in one of the

  • Dawdle all you want

    IN one of the popular women's magazines, I was incensed to read a letter from Ms T. Braiden of Radcliffe regarding pensioners who dawdle in shopping centres. What sheer arrogance! Does Ms Braiden never have to struggle past parents who stand talking in

  • Farmhouse murder charge: Man in court

    A MAN from Radcliffe has been charged with the farmhouse murder of a Cheshire market trader. James Stuart Raven, aged 43, of Parnham Close, appeared before magistrates in Macclesfield on Monday. Brian Waters, aged 43, was found dead at Burnt House Farm

  • Racecourse rout sends warning to leaders

    RADCLIFFE'S surge up the Central Lancashire League table continued on Sunday as super performances from Eddie Shah and Pasan Wanansinghe dismantled in-form Werneth by nine wickets. The Racecourse side ruthlessly exposed their opponents to send the clearest

  • Trio flee old folk's home

    WHAT happens when three old ladies escape from an old people's home will be the intriguing subject matter in Too Soon For Daisies, a production from Clitheroe's Trinity Drama Group. The comedy thriller will be staged from Thursday to Saturday in the Trinity

  • Stage Whispers

    READINGS for Blackburn Drama Club's new season continue tomorrow night, starting at 7.30 at the Capita Performing Arts Centre, Ewood. Newcomers are welcome. Call (01254) 247510 or (01254) 249181 for more information. Would-be performers are pictured at

  • We need people to fight for our town

    COUNCILLOR Dave Smith is missing the point when he again talks about the millions spent in Darwen (Letter, June 10). The jewel in the crown of any town or city is its shopping centre. What Coun Smith always fails to mention is the Labour council's continuous

  • Biker killed in smash

    A MOTORBIKE rider was killed early today after a smash involving three vehicles near Hapton. The man, who has not been named by police, died at the scene in Accrington Road, close to the Hapton Inn pub. Police said the man, who was local and in his 30s

  • Welcome home to Travelling Ted

    TRAVELLERS can often get lost when they are out and about, especially if they are only six inches tall. Travelling Ted, the school mascot at Potter's House School, on Arley Avenue, Bury, has been touring the world over the past five years with staff and

  • Chemical leak alert

    A BURST pipe sparked off a chemical leak alert at a Radcliffe factory. During the scare, a street was cordoned-off and three fire engines were called to J.W. Whewell in York Street after residents complained of a disinfectant smell. But officers discovered

  • Cliviger Bulletin

    THE monthly meeting of the parish council was held on Friday at the Village Hall, with Coun E Heys as chairman. Several residents attended to raise matters with the council, and these were dealt with at the benning of the meeting. IT WAS stated that the

  • Police on alert for anti-racism demo

    EXTRA police patrols have been set up for an anti-racism demonstration due to take place in Burnley at the weekend. Additional police officers will be on the streets on Saturday for the planned Unity Demonstration and will carry out extra, high visibility

  • Nelson for Hartlepool?

    SHAKERS skipper Michael Nelson is set to join Hartlepool United in a £70,000 deal as the policy to lighten the financial load at Gigg Lane goes on.

  • Five years ago

    MUSIC fans were expected to converge on Clitheroe when guitar legend Hank Marvin took to the stage. Hank's appearance at the Civic Hall was one of only a handful of dates in a UK tour.

  • Ten years ago

    AN Oriental art exhibition celebrating five years of friendship between Accrington and China was opened. The display at Accrington and Rossendale College was opened by Teng Guang-Biao, vice-consul at the Chinese Consulate in Manchester.

  • Planks for coming

    A NATIONWIDE flooring firm is laying the foundations for a successful future in Bury. Floors-2-Go have opened a 375 sq metres showroom in Bolton Street, employing a four-strong staff. Bury's mayor and mayoress, Councillor Wilf Davison and his wife Maureen

  • Event went with a swing

    THE seventh annual charity golf day organised by Heap Bridge-based Thompson Jones certainly went with a swing. The popular event hosted by the business advisers and chartered accountants raised £1,500 which will be donated to Francis House Children's

  • Burnley sensation can't wait

    LANCASHIRE pace sensation James Anderson can't wait to get back out on the field of play. The Burnley product shone in England's 2-1 NatWest Challenge series win over Pakistan last week and can't wait for the one-day international action to start again

  • Sainsbury's site: changes get planning support

    REVISED plans for the former Sainsbury's site look set to be given the go-ahead at a special planning meeting on Monday (June 23). Bury planners have recommended that committee members approve the scheme subject to certain conditions. As reported last

  • Increasing ethnic officers

    A TWO-DAY recruitment campaign is to be held to make ethnic police officers less of a minority. In an effort to increase the number of police officers, support staff and volunteer Special Constables from minority ethnic communities, Greater Manchester

  • Founder returns to help victims and witnesses

    JANE Sacks made a welcome return to Bury Victim Support and Witness Service when she officially opened its new premises. And she was the most appropriate person to be selected to conduct the ceremony: she was manager of Victim Support in Bury from its

  • Mystery tour to school

    SCHOOLCHILDREN found themselves on a mystery tour when they caught their usual school bus and ended up one-and-a-half hours late for lessons! Dozens of Tottington High School pupils took the scenic route through Ramsbottom and the Rossendale Valley on

  • Sporting youth does Bury proud

    BURY'S youngsters joined around 4,500 athletes, 500 volunteers, 140 coaches and 140 officials in making the Greater Manchester Youth Games of 2003 the most successful yet, writes MARC HIGGINSON. And our sporting talent of the future didn't disgrace themselves

  • Axe falls on 70 jobs at Philips plant

    TV COMPONENTS manufacturer LG Philips Displays is making 70 of the 320 workers at its Blackburn factory redundant. Bosses today said the redundancies were necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the plant, which makes cathode ray tubes for televisions

  • 'Takeaway town' fear

    SHOP owners and councillors today blasted the prospect of Darwen turning into the borough's 'takeaway town'. They fear fast-food shops are taking over the streets and making it more difficult for other traders to survive. Kathleen Reece, owner of Hodkinson's

  • Cash on offer to boost voluntary groups

    VOLUNTARY groups in Ramsbottom can take advantage of a funding initiative for local groups to help kickstart new ideas. The Kickstart budget awards are available to most community and voluntary groups within Ramsbottom and Tottington. Applications will

  • Youth group ready to spring into action

    A NEW youth group is ready for action and is looking for teenagers to get involved. Ramsbottom and Tottington Youth Action Group is an innovative project which promises to listen to the views of young people. With the assistance of a youth worker and

  • Final sum is champion for mayor

    THE former mayor of Rossendale Jimmy Eaton received a final fundraising boost when he collected more than £2,000 for his charity. The fundraising champion who managed to raise more than £23,000 alongside his wife Janet, completed more than 300 engagements

  • TV spot no longer just flight of fancy

    A SCHOOLGIRL has broken a three-month silence to let friends and family in on her TV secret. Nicole Sosnowski, 14, of Whitecroft Meadows, Haslingden, a pupil at Bacup and Rossendale Grammar School, is to star on ITV's Airline later this year alongside

  • Fridge mountain set to melt away

    FRIDGE mountains could disappear by the end of the year, claims an East Lancashire euro-MP. An EU regulation to reduce ozone-depleting gases by requiring the removal of CFC foam insulation from old fridges has created major problems for the UK, which

  • Drivers to be banned from using mobiles

    JANET Anderson today won her campaign to ban the use of mobile phones while driving. Motorists who use a hand held mobile phone behind the wheel will face fines of up to £1,000 and get three points on their licence every time they are caught. Rossendale

  • They stole our lives

    A FAMILY'S dream move to a new life in Wales has turned into a nightmare after thieves stole everything they owned. Stephen Walker, of Little Harwood, had loaded furniture, electrical goods and personal belongings into a removal van the night before he

  • Criminals allowed to run pubs - claim

    A LEADING landlord today called for a tightening of licensing laws to stop criminals becoming involved in the running of pubs. Geoff Sutcliffe, secretary of Blackburn and District Licensed Victuallers' Association, said the standard of Blackburn's bars

  • Prompt action after accident

    ON June 3, I was involved in a serious accident at the junction of Lord Street and Rochdale Road, Bury, and I would like to thank everyone who came to my aid, particularly Mr Mick Conlon and his wife, Sarah, and numerous other people whose names I do

  • Who approved paving work?

    I AM astounded at the work carried out in Spring Street, Bury, close to Asda. The entire street is being block-paved at council taxpayers' expense, costing around £180,000. I have been informed by a council officer from the regeneration department that

  • Era wasn't really so "golden"

    I HAVE to say that I am disappointed that my attempts to bring a little humour to a serious discussion should cause such offence to Mr Van Hecke (Your Letters, June 10). If I did cause offence then I apologise, something which Mr Van Hecke finds difficult

  • Faulkner to the fore, but Walshaw fall short

    WALSHAW found themselves chasing 220 to win in their top of the table clash at Spring View on Saturday and fell just five runs short of their target. Spring View won the toss and elected to bat and built up an impressive total of 219 with professional

  • Gracious Gladys still a class act!

    GLADYS Richards dedicated her entire 40 year teaching career to the children of Feniscowles Primary School. Now to mark her 90th birthday the school joined together to say thank you. Simon Haworth and Rachel Kenny met her on her special day... THROUGHOUT

  • Local kids rule in Tulle

    AT the recent Tulle International Festival in France, the Bury Metro swim squad left teams from five different countries floundering in their waves. The team, made up from top swimmers from Ramsbottom, Bury and Elton, and Radcliffe, swept to a convincing

  • Jaguars have that winning formula

    BURY Jaguars' Junior Hockey Club have completed another highly successful season and will have plenty to celebrate at their presentation evening on June 29. Following last season's Treble, the under-11 boys repeated the feat this year of becoming Lancashire

  • Bury ko'd by trackside robbery

    THE much abused phrase "We wuz robbed" has never been truer than at the Goshen Cycle Speedway track, when Bury-Pedal Sport were cruelly deprived of their place in the quarter-final of the British Team Championship. The match with Eaton, from Norwich,

  • Take part in perfekt crime

    READINGS for Blackburn Art Club's forthcoming production Inspector Drake and the Perfekt Crime take place tonight at the Club Theatre, Gibraltar Street, Blackburn from 7.30pm. For more information, call (01254) 583568.

  • Shame to lose coach holidays

    REGARDING Blackburn Transport's decision to cancel its coach holidays, (LET, June 12), I and my granddaughter have been on many of their trips and always thoroughly enjoyed them. I was shocked that they were portrayed as being mainly for pensioners, for

  • We can prosper without euro

    LIKE many other pro-Europeans, Gary Arthurs (Letters, June 12) threatens us with the loss of manufacturing jobs should we fail to join the euro. This scaremongering tactic is becoming threadbare. Of all the goods manufactured in this country, including

  • Evicted

    UNWELCOME travellers to Summerseat packed up their bags last Thursday evening (June 12). A court order was issued late last week to evict the camp of 15 caravans who had set up camp on playing fields off Waterside Road the previous Sunday evening.

  • Bids for school

    A DOOMED Church of England school has gone on the market for £250,000. St Paul's CE Primary in Ramsbottom will close at the end of the summer term as part of a controversial move by the local education authority to address falling pupil rolls and cut

  • Nikki points the way for winners

    CORONATION Street star Nikki Sanderson had her finger on the button when she drew Bury Hospice's Red Rose Lottery Super £3,000 draw on Friday (June 13). The lucky first prize winner was St Joseph's Over-60s Club in Bury, whose members were delighted when

  • UK troops killed in Iraq

    SIX British forces personnel have been killed and eight others injured in two separate attacks in the south of Iraq. Both incidents occurred near Al Amarah, to the north of Basra, early today, the Ministry of Defence have said. There are no further details

  • Backing for wind farm

    MEMBERS of the public have backed plans for a £50 million wind farm on moorland between Edenfield and Whitworth. Support came from people questionned following exhibitions in Heywood and Rossendale on the Scout Moor Wind Farm development. The exhibitions

  • Wild across the board!

    TEENAGE daredevils enjoyed an action-packed day at Ramsbottom's Sk8-On. The show took place at Bolton Road West play area for the second year running, with organiser Carole Crompton describing it as "a brilliant day". Said Carole: "The turn-out for our

  • Bury in Bloom

    CALLING all gardeners! Bury Council wants to have a look at your handiwork. It has launched its seventh Bury in Bloom competition to showcase the gardening talents of the borough's residents. Everyone is encouraged to get involved from community gardens

  • Hundreds queue for new Potter book

    MAGIC was in the air for hundreds of Harry Potter fans who enjoyed an enchanted late-night shopping trip to Bury. More than 450 customers flocked to Waterstone's at midnight on Friday to snap up copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the

  • Police hunting top youngster!

    YOUNGSTERS have been put at the top of Bury Police's "most wanted" list! The force is asking members of the public to be on the lookout for the most dedicated and caring youngsters, one of whom will go on to represent the borough's police division in

  • From striker to wing wizard

    HIS head was smarting from thumping a header into the opposition net, and his ears still ringing with the cheers of a packed Ewood faithful sensing a stirring second half fightback. But as Ken Beamish made his way into the Ewood Park dressing room he

  • Hospital given labelling boost

    A VITAL new piece of equipment aimed at erasing cataloguing errors has been bought for Burnley General Hospital. The Tissue Processing Cassette/Labeller machine has been paid for with £3,000 raised by the League of Voluntary Workers. The cash was raised

  • Scenes of crime officer cleared of abduction

    A CIVILIAN scenes of crime officer with Lancashire police has been cleared of abducting a 12-year-old East Lancashire girl. Peter Sharples, 55, told a jury he did not think his actions ever took the youngster out of the control of her mother. Sharples

  • Biker killed in smash

    A MOTORBIKE rider was killed early today after a smash involving three vehicles near Hapton. The man, who has not been named by police, died at the scene in Accrington Road, close to the Hapton Inn pub. Police said the man, who was local and in his 30s

  • Drivers to be banned from using mobiles

    JANET Anderson today won her campaign to ban the use of mobile phones while driving. Motorists who use a hand held mobile phone behind the wheel will face fines of up to £1,000 and get three points on their licence every time they are caught. Rossendale

  • Forever Bury bulletin

    SO now we know why the Bury FC AGM was postponed at such short notice. A possible buyer seems to have appeared on the horizon. OK we have heard it all before. Twelve months ago "Mystery buyers" were emerging from all sides, only to disappear like mirages

  • Hero cops saved suicidal man's life

    WHILE on foot patrol in Darwen town centre, PC Paul Jackson was alerted to a drunken suicidal man armed with a razor blade. The man, in his early 20s, slashed his own wrist with the razor and tried to bite the officer. Paramedics called to the scene said

  • Nine in court after dawn drugs swoop

    NINE people were due to appear in court today facing charges relating to the supply and possession of drugs. The charges follow a series of dawn raids in the Church and Central areas of Accrington yesterday. More than 80 officers from the support unit

  • Access agreed to troubled tip

    PLANS to create a new access to a controversial tip have taken a step forward after county and borough councillors agreed on a potential route. Representatives from Lancashire County Council and Hyndburn Council met yesterday to discuss four possible

  • Councillor's anger at 'hijacked' cash

    A COUNCILLOR has slammed planning officials for "hijacking" £90,000 she says should have been spent on a new community centre in her ward. The money is part of a legal agreement with developers Barratt Manchester, which has applied to build a 82-home

  • Stock market's brighter future

    STOCK markets around the world are set to pick up -- but experts have warned against heralding a market recovery. Bury-based personal finance adviser Nick Thompson says that investors should consider a cautious return to stocks and shares as the longest

  • Heard about this new partnership?

    LOCAL company Yates & Suddell have launched a new hearing-aid service through a new partnership with Advanced Hearing Services. The firm, which operates from premises in Bury, Ramsbottom and Walkden, is owned by Mr Stuart Goodman. He said: "Advanced

  • New posts

    CENTRAL Lancashire League cricket captain Jon Selby is batting for a new side. He is one of two new appointments to Bury-based accountancy and advisory firm DTE. The other is Tim Beard. Mr Selby, 32 has been named as marketing manager. He joins DTE with

  • Clear message of success

    BURY-based Pennine Telecom is helping a large retail operation keep their communications in order. The Mall Corporation specialises in taking over shopping malls, refurbishing them and giving them a new lease of life and now owns 12 around the country

  • Mo's happy birthday

    MOHAMED Camara has picked up the perfect birthday present after joining Burnley on a two-year deal. And the Clarets have former England star Paul Ince to thank for securing the signature of the former Wolves defender. Camara, 28, tomorrow, last night

  • Now it is the Ministry of Art

    MOST blokes like to study the female form at their local. But a Burnley pub is taking things a step further with an exhibition of art themed on the naked form. The Ministry of Ale in Trafalgar Street, a pub renowned for its regular art exhibitions, is

  • They hope to bowl them over

    IT'S the big day tomorrow for Blackburn's bowling landlords and landladies as they hope to represent the town admirably in an annual competition. Members of the Blackburn Licensed Victuallers' Association are taking on their counterparts from Blackpool

  • A £100,000 pub revamp

    NELSON landlord Dave Coffey is hoping to create one of the top live music venues in the region after a £100,000 refurbishment at the Shooter's Arms. Dave said the Southfield pub has now been completely transformed after he made a request to Thwaites Brewery

  • Soccer club chairman's brother found dead

    THE brother of Bury FC chairman John Smith has been found dead at their family-run haulage firm. Mr Allan Smith had become depressed after a series of strokes in December last year left him medically unfit to drive. His body was found hanging from a lorry's

  • Claudio could be the silver lining

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is weighing up a swoop for Sunderland midfielder Claudio Reyna. But any such move would not hinge on Rovers selling David Dunn to the highest bidder. Souness wants to bolster his midfield ahead of next season's two-pronged

  • Mo's happy birthday

    MOHAMED Camara has picked up the perfect birthday present after joining Burnley on a two-year deal. And the Clarets have former England star Paul Ince to thank for securing the signature of the former Wolves defender. Camara, 28, tomorrow, last night

  • Rallying call for area's prosperity

    AEROSPACE campaigner Dennis Mendoros has warned that the prosperity of East Lancashire hinges on the survival and growth of its key manufacturing industries. Mr Mendoros used his trip to last week's Paris International Air Show to stress that the region

  • Dozens turn up for cardiac checks

    THIRTY-EIGHT people aged between 14 and 35 took the opportunity to have a free cardiac test in Darwen in a bid to detect potentially life-threatening abnormalities. CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young, held the event at the weekend in memory of Neil Wickers

  • Strong arm tactics

    HUNDREDS of shoppers brought a part of Blackburn town centre to a standstill as they marvelled at the might of more than 20 arm wrestlers. The High Noon Arm Wrestling show set up a stall in King William Street, near to Marks and Spencers, and attracted

  • Accident victim 'knocked into road'

    A BLACKBURN man has gone on trial accused of swinging a 46-year-old man into the road, resulting in him being run over by a car. Preston Crown Court was told that William Bulcock was then allegedly kicked by Andrew Hill as he lay unconscious in the road

  • Mercy crews in top three in UK

    LANCASHIRE ambulance service is officially in the top three in the country, according to the latest Government statistics. Only two other services besides Lancashire exceeded all three Government targets for emergency and urgent response during the year

  • Man quizzed in rape probe

    A MAN has been quizzed about the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Blackburn town centre. The 23-year-old Asian man was arrested at 2.20pm yesterday as a result of media appeals made through the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, police said. He was detained at

  • Axe falls on 70 jobs at Philips plant

    TV COMPONENTS manufacturer LG Philips Displays is making 70 of the 320 workers at its Blackburn factory redundant. Bosses today said the redundancies were necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the plant, which makes cathode ray tubes for televisions

  • Issuing tickets like confetti

    OUR front page article Cycle Shop Driven Out (June 13) concludes with the parking manager and NCP spokesmen blaming one another. Having tested the appeals procedure myself, I would advise anyone thinking of doing so to be very careful. Do not waste your

  • Once Labour would have fought this

    RECENTLY there has been a series of left-wing attacks on local residents like Bernard Slingsby, whose only crime seems to be that they are campaigning to keep open a council home for the elderly. A few years ago I suspect that Labour activists would have

  • Parents oppose school drinks ban

    A SCHOOL ban on all breaktime drinks apart from water has proved too much to swallow for some parents of pupils at Springside Primary. Fizzy drinks, fruit juice and cordial have been forbidden in favour of bottled water during playtimes at the Walmersley