Archive

  • Euro will cut our pensions

    I MUST be one of the sceptics whom Gary Arthurs, of North West in Europe, criticises (Letters, June 12). I think that changing to the euro would cost me and many other people and small businesses a great deal of money in pensions and savings, etc. In

  • 'Best man' heartache

    A FAMILY today paid an emotional tribute to a bike fanatic killed just weeks before he was due to be best man at his sister's wedding. Stephen Fairley, 39, "always had a smile and a joke" and will be remembered as a man who didn't have an enemy in the

  • Murder charge over ashtray death

    A MAN has been charged with murder following the death of a pensioner six weeks after she was struck on the head by a glass ashtray. Eileen O'Meara, 78, was hit by the ashtray while walking past Yates's pub in Burnley on Saturday, April 26. She died in

  • Public toilets to shut after 'misuse' claims

    PUBLIC toilets in Cliviger are to be closed because of allegations they are being misused by men. In March this year, extra police patrols were posted in the Burnley Road area after people living nearby complained the men's part of the facility was being

  • Chris really is the new Billy Elliot!

    A BURNLEY youngster who dreamt of becoming the next Billy Elliot after winning a place at a prestigious London theatre school has won a part in a major new stage production... playing Billy Elliot. Ten year-old Chris Parkinson, beat off competition from

  • Campaign to protect beauty spots

    A CAMPAIGN to protect areas of architectural interest in the Southfield area of Nelson and prevent any more development has been started by residents and councillors, who are pushing for conservation area status. The Nelson Committee looks likely to approve

  • Adele's tasty recipe voted simply soup-er

    A STUDENT from Nelson and Colne College has been declared overall winner of the New Covent Garden Food Co Student Chef 2003 competition. Adele Ormerod clinched the title with her Butternut Squash, Apricot & Ginger soup and she can now see her winning

  • Robot ideas win awards

    STUDENTS attending Norden High School, Rishton, put their engineering skills into practice when they participated in a Training 2000 course, funded by the Education Business Partnership (EBP) and the organisation, Champion for Young People. The after

  • Students' scholarship joy

    THREE former Stonyhurst College pupils now studying at Cambridge University have been awarded scholarships for their top class work as undergraduates. The awards recognise the achievements of Catherine Gardner of Aylesbury, Lokesh Khiani of Malta and

  • Italy's fallen giants target striker

    ROVERS outcast Ciccio Grabbi could be heading for the Ewood exit door this summer after reports in Italy have linked him with a return to his homeland. Agents working on behalf of the player are thought to have made contact with a number of Italian clubs

  • Arrest after body found

    A MAN was arrested today after the body of a man was found in a caravan park at 7am. Police were called to the Holden Mill site, off the Grane Road, and are treating the death as suspicious. The arrested man was due to be questioned later today. Detective

  • Police issue 'easy ride' thieves alert

    RESIDENTS in Rossendale are being warned about a team of burglars who are targeting unlocked properties in the valley. Police are now urging home owners to take more security measures following a spate of incidents. According to police burglaries have

  • Devastated - workers who face TV jobs cull

    WORKERS at a TV parts factory have spoken of their devastation after it was announced 70 jobs are to go. But the boss of the LG Philips Display plant in Blackburn said that the future of the plant is not in doubt even after the workforce was cut to 250

  • It's knickers with a twist

    A SHOPPER from Blackburn got more than she bargained for when she stumbled across a pair of 60-year-old French knickers in a charity sale. Student Danielle Connelly, of Hayes Lane, Livesey, saw the underwear in the RSPCA shop, in Lord Street West. The

  • Number's up for mobile menace

    USING a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel of a car will become illegal later this year, but using a hands-free set is still allowed. Ian Singleton looks at the background to yesterday's long-awaited decision by the Government and asks whether it goes

  • Business in sport

    ARMED with television's all-seeing tentacles, every sport has the ability to provide us with a regular supply of nostalgic material. Yet another chapter in sporting nostalgia will close on Friday when a major athletics meeting will be held for the final

  • Beaten up dad's life in ruins

    A FATHER-of-three from Radcliffe is trying to rebuild his shattered life after an horrific gang beating left him with serious brain injuries. Jeff Cooke, aged 26, has had to learn how to walk and talk again and will never be able to return to his job

  • House raid goods are traced

    A FAMILY whose move to Wales was wrecked by thieves who stole a removal van containing everything they owned have managed to recover some of their belongings, including precious photographs. The thieves who stole the white Mercedes van from outside the

  • Lawyers arrested in money probe

    THREE solicitors and a legal assistant were arrested today by police investigating how a major drug dealer laundered his profits. Officers from the National Crime squad swooped on five East Lancashire practices -- one each in Blackburn, Earby and Clitheroe

  • More to come after Tommy- Terzis

    TOMMY Martyn won't be the last big name player to join Leigh Centurions this season. Coach Paul Terzis has one more significant target in his sights as Leigh prepare for their push towards Super League. On the day Leigh concluded the deal that brings

  • Dead para sister's public inquiry call

    THE Burnley sister of a former paratrooper who died in police custody has called for a public inquiry after five police officers were cleared of neglect of duty. Janet Alder said she would fight on to try and get justice for brother Christopher, who died

  • Worsthorne Bulletin

    LANCASHIRE Partnership for Road Safety strives to raise awareness of the consequences of speeding to prevent the reality of road deaths and injuries within communities, such as Worsthorne. Speeding in Britain carries a penalty of at least £60 plus three

  • Robbers wrestle cash box from guards

    TWO robbers wrestled with security officers delivering money to a cash machine in Burnley last night before making off with a cash box containing £10,000. The two security guards, who regularly visit the cash machine, on the side wall of the Spar Shop

  • Student made threats to police officer

    A STUDENT disgruntled over being arrested threatened to take a police officer's head off, Burnley Magistrates heard. The court was told that Waquar Ahmed, 20, shouted in Punjabi, struggled and looked as if he was going to hit an officer. Two policemen

  • 'Royals should pay for police' says MP

    EAST Lancashire MP Gordon Prentice wants the Royal Family to have to pay for policing in the same way as football clubs have to do. The Pendle Labour MP raised the issue with Home Secretary David Blunkett in the House of Commons as he outlined what happened

  • Five years ago

    PUPILS from St Anne's RC Primary School, Blackburn, made friends with officers from Lancashire Constabulary's mounted branch. The horses visited the Fielden Street school as part of Child Safety Week.

  • Praise for brave PCs

    THREE police officers who showed "immense courage" in restraining a gunman are in line for a national bravery award. PCs Julian Brassington, Matthew Leigh and David Bower, from the armed response unit based at Accrington, have been nominated for a Police

  • East meets West on culture trip

    EAST meets West this summer when young people from Sri Lanka flock to Accrington as part of a youth exchange trip. The young people will spend 6,500 hours engaged in voluntary work in local community projects and the organisers also said they would welcome

  • Ordeal of police worker accused of abducting girl, 12

    A SCENES of crime officer today spoke of his relief after being cleared of abducting an East Lancashire schoolgirl. Peter Sharples, 55, of Sabden, was acquitted on four counts of abduction by a jury at Preston Crown Court and Judge Stuart Baker directed

  • Burnley facing test in cup

    BURNLEY will start their League Cup quest with a tricky trip to Second Division strugglers Chesterfield. The Clarets have been drawn away to the Spireites in the First Round Draw of the newly-named Carling Cup, which replaces the Worthington Cup following

  • Boo-boys almost forced me out

    BORN-AGAIN Burnley defender Graham Branch has revealed he almost quit the club to escape the boo-boys. Branch, who earlier this week signed a new contract, recently sealed his Turf Moor transformation by picking up two Player of the Year awards. The Liverpool-born

  • Family centre earns national recognition

    DARWEN'S Sure Start centre is to be used as a blueprint for success at providing services for young children and their families. Education and Skills Secretary Charles Clarke and Children's Minister Margaret Hodge designated the Sudell and Central Darwen

  • Salon plays host to award-winning hairdressers

    FREDDIE'S Salon in Rawtenstall played host to a team of top London hairdressers and invited students from Accrington and Rossendale to learn some new techniques. Hairdressers of the Year Brooks and Brooks were on hand at the Bank Street salon to give

  • It's knickers with a twist

    A SHOPPER from Blackburn got more than she bargained for when she stumbled across a pair of 60-year-old French knickers in a charity sale. Student Danielle Connelly, of Hayes Lane, Livesey, saw the underwear in the RSPCA shop, in Lord Street West. The

  • Bank stops 'could put lives at risk'

    MOTORISTS who stop on double yellow lines to use a cash point were today warned they are holding up fire engines en route to local emergencies. And police warned they will take severe action if drivers continued stopping outside the TSB cash point on

  • Another victim of market forces

    EVEN in the relatively-buoyant employment climate that East Lancashire has, with fewer than three per cent out of work, it is still sad to see jobs being axed. But it is more so when they are being lost at a firm that for more than 60 years has been a

  • Cowslip blooms

    LAST year I mentioned that the cowslip was becoming more common. This year I have kept my eyes open and found the plant growing along motorway verges and on the sides of roads. Twenty years ago a sight like this would have brought photographers in search

  • How do swallows babysit?

    FOR the last two years I have had swallows nesting around my house. As they fed their young I was counting how many visits the parents made to provide food for the eager youngsters. They seemed to be so busy that I wondered how they managed to obtain

  • Animal magic is such a hoot

    ELSA the Bengal eagle owl and her friends swooped down on Blackburn's Asda superstore for a magical treat for youngsters. Elsa was joined in the foyer by Cyril the squirrel, Beavy the tawny owl, Brindle the little owl, Broughton the baby tawny owl, Meggy

  • BNP is not the answer

    THE recent claims by some British National Party supporters that the BNP is now the party to represent working people would be hilarious if it was not so serious. Not only does it re-write the history of fascist activity in this area but the remainder

  • Iraq showed Europe cannot unite

    GARY Arthurs, of North West in Europe (Letters, June 12) accuses euro-sceptics of pedalling myths about Europe and says "if they are to be believed there exists a conspiracy of Johnny Foreigners, hell bent on destroying a 1,000 years of history." Yet,

  • Major changes to bus services

    NEW bus services are being introduced and changes made to existing ones from this Sunday with timetable revisions, route and operator changes. Evening services are being introduced on Mondays to Saturdays with the introduction of the 651 Leigh-Shakerley

  • Italy's fallen giants target striker

    ROVERS outcast Ciccio Grabbi could be heading for the Ewood exit door this summer after reports in Italy have linked him with a return to his homeland. Agents working on behalf of the player are thought to have made contact with a number of Italian clubs

  • Amoruso can be a fans favourite

    BLACKBURN transfer target Lorenzo Amoruso was today tipped to become a huge fans' favourite next season when he finally completes his move to Ewood. Amoruso looks set to sign next week after finally agreeing terms with Rovers boss Graeme Souness. And

  • Who put out the phoney news on Ron?

    BURNLEY Football Club is searching for the person who told fans Ronaldo was on his way to Turf Moor. Subscribers to the club's mobile telephone text messaging service were left dribbling in anticipation on Monday when a hoax message was sent out. The

  • Friend tells of teenager's tragic car smash death

    A TEENAGER died after running out in front of a car on a busy road in Burnley, an inquest heard. John Paul Henry Fallon suffered multiple injuries after he was struck by a passing car as he ran after friends across Brunshaw Road at around 6.30pm on February

  • Smith calls time on Shakers exodus

    SHAKERS chairman John Smith claims the shock departure of skipper Michael Nelson will be the last of the summer. Nelson joined the Gigg Lane exodus this week with a return to his native north east in a £70,000 move to Division Two newcomers Hartlepool

  • Mayor has capital date with Pakistan president

    PENDLE'S first Asian Mayor, Coun Mohammad Iqbal, attended an audience with the president of Pakistan, General Parvaiz Musharaf, in London. He joined 800 dignitaries at the Hilton Hotel, London, to hear an address from the president. The event included

  • New flats may replace house

    A LARGE, detached house in Colne could be demolished and replaced with a development of nine, two bedroom apartments. Plans for site of the house, called The Rough in Castle Road, have been submitted to Pendle Council. The council's planning officers

  • Praise for brave PCs

    THREE police officers who showed "immense courage" in restraining a gunman are in line for a national bravery award. PCs Julian Brassington, Matthew Leigh and David Bower, from the armed response unit based at Accrington, have been nominated for a Police

  • A truly English affair

    THE genteel Englishness of the classic film Brief Encounter smoothly rolled in to the Lowry. This production of the David Lean film features the clipped accents and repressed passion that fans are sure to love. The story of Laura and Alec's illicit affair

  • Nine in court after police dawn raids

    MAGISTRATES have given police permission to retain nearly £25,000 in cash seized during dawn raids. The move came as seven men and two women appeared in court following Monday's raids, which were part of a major crackdown on drug dealers in Hyndburn.

  • 'Best man' heartache

    A FAMILY today paid an emotional tribute to a bike fanatic killed just weeks before he was due to be best man at his sister's wedding. Stephen Fairley, 39, "always had a smile and a joke" and will be remembered as a man who didn't have an enemy in the

  • On show - monster from the deep

    THIS is the one that didn't get away! The colossal 190lb halibut, freshly caught off the Danish coast, startled shoppers in Clitheroe. Fishmonger Giles Shaw at Wellgate Fisheries hung up the mighty fish after being inspired by an old photograph of a similarly

  • Drink driver in car chase 3 days after ban

    A 22-YEAR-OLD disqualified driver raced through the streets of Longridge at speeds of up to 70 mph on Friday night, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that Robert McKenna sped down a back alley at more than 30 mph with his lights out as police

  • Boo-boys almost forced me out

    BORN-AGAIN Burnley defender Graham Branch has revealed he almost quit the club to escape the boo-boys. Branch, who earlier this week signed a new contract, recently sealed his Turf Moor transformation by picking up two Player of the Year awards. The Liverpool-born

  • Darwen slip up

    DARWEN lost their Thwaites Cup encounter by just 16 runs in a high-scoring game at Kendal on Sunday. Kendal chose to bat first and openers Little and South put together a partnership of 89 before Gareth Cordingley struck to dismiss Little for 37. Mercer

  • Northern's star wants to shine brightly

    IT'S not the reaction you would expect from a player that has just taken eight wickets in one innings. But it's an indication of the high standards Blackburn Northern pro Gareth Flusk sets himself that just days after his haul against Great Harwood he

  • That's giving ammunition to the BNP

    POLITICAL leaders claimed electoral sanity was returning to Burnley and that voters were coming back to the mainstream parties after the British National Party, which has made the town its local government 'capital,' was beaten in the council by-election

  • A lesson learned

    SURELY, all that was lacking in the latest speed camera propaganda campaign was violins playing in the background. For what else but drumming up mawkish sentiment can you call the business of East Lancashire drivers, nabbed by police with a mobile camera

  • Weight and see the good it will do you!

    DARWEN Weight Watchers are shedding the pounds for summer - and more men are invited to join in. More than twelve members have each lost 50lb or more since the start of the year. Leader Lorraine Jones said: "We have lots of people doing really well here

  • Speed cameras under spotlight

    RESIDENTS are urged to attend a community meeting to discuss policing in Rossendale tomorrow at 7.30pm. A wide range of county initiatives will be on the agenda with Lancashire's extended use of speed cameras also under discussion. The police authority

  • Dambusters raid remembered

    THE Fred Longworth Brass Band will on Thursday commemorate the 60th anniversary of the famous World War II Dambusters raid in a special concert. The event will take place at the Tyldesley Rugby Union Club at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4 and are available from

  • Accident victim kicked, jury told

    A MAN told a jury how he went to the aid of an attack victim and feared he was dead. It has been alleged that 46 year-old William Bulcock was swung by the arm into the path of an oncoming car which ran over him. Then as he lay unconscious, his attacker

  • Unfit chicken sold on to store chain

    CONTAMINATED poultry, fit only for pet food or fertilisers, was supplied to Kwik Save supermarkets, cafes and snack bars - including some in Blackburn and Burnley - a court has heard. The food was distributed by a Derbyshire firm to wholesalers and then

  • Parents' anger at yobs' paint spree

    A COMMUNITY has been left devastated after vandals threw paint over a children's play area after weeks of attacks. Volunteers at the East Street Community Association, formed 12 months ago, have attracted funding for evening events aimed at improving

  • A real-life edge to medical dramas

    ACTORS are being employed in a unique project to help train nurses in Blackburn's hospitals. Patients are being urged to volunteer their experiences of hospital care and then their stories will be relayed to nurses in workshops through actors. The patients

  • Sorry for dossier - Straw

    FOREIGN Secretary Jack Straw has admitted a "dodgy dossier" lifted from an Iraqi-born US academic before the war on Saddam was an embarrassment. And the Blackburn MP has said the government owed the student an apology for putting his family back home