LEIGH RMI boss Mark Patterson is relieved to be playing Accrington Stanley early in the Nationwide Conference campaign. The former Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers centre forward admitted he would rather catch them while they are finding their feet
THE weakest of penalties from star striker Ricardo Fuller meant Preston fell at the first hurdle in the Carling Cup against crisis club Notts County. Along with fellow striker Richard Cresswell, Jamaican Fuller missed chance after chance during the first
A PIGEON lover was today accused of putting a neighbour's life at risk because his birds are affecting her incurable lung condition. Nicola Mackenzie, 10, of Stansfeld Street, Blackburn, needs steroids, inhalers and twice-daily physiotherapy for cystic
THE manager of Blackburn Shopping Centre today called for more to be done to keep Church Street full of shoppers. Arnold Wilcox-Wood spoke out as he revealed that July's footfall through the shopping centre, which cuts across the town centre, was up 16
CHILDREN believed to be as young as nine are running riot in a Blackburn street. Residents in the Infirmary area of Blackburn have blamed the problems on private landlords allowing their tenants to get out of control without facing any consequences, as
A MOTHER today hit out at health bosses after her "suicidal" daughter was rescued from the roof of the mental health unit where she was being treated. Barbara Mitchell says her 20-year-old daughter Leona, who has a history of depression, is suicidal and
COUNTY Council bosses have pledged to continue supporting 17 bus services -- despite subsidies costing them more than £2 per passenger per journey. Transport chiefs have earmarked £300,000 to keep the routes going until at least 2008 because scrapping
CHARITIES working with children in East Lancashire have been awarded more than £100,000 from the cash raised by BBC Children in Need. The cash will go to Bank Hey Good Morning Club, in Blackburn, and the East Lancashire Deaf Society and Happy Faces Childcare
A CHARITY that helps victims of crime in East Lancashire is looking for people to take part in its second annual fund-raising cross-country run on September 20. Victim Support Lancashire wants people to come forward and earn sponsorship at the event at
A NEW health centre costing nearly £3 million is being planned for Atherton. The centre, which will house three GP surgeries, eight doctors and a pharmacy, will be based on the former St George's infants school off Bag Lane. It has been empty since the
VOTERS in Stacksteads go to the polls this week following the resignation of Labour councillor Dale Connearn. Mr Connearn, 38, retired from Rossendale Council earlier this year, after only 14 months in the chamber, to spend more time with his three children
PEOPLE visiting Grane Road cemetery in Haslingden will no longer have to struggle up the hill to pay their respects after a local environmental group created a new public entrance. The plans were developed by Groundwork Rossendale after a group of people
TESTS on women treated with unsterilised equipment at a Darwen surgery have come back with results showing some to be positive for hepatitis B. But health chiefs say it is because the patients will have had the infection in the past and got over it, often
PROPOSALS for a facelift of Darwen's rundown communities will be on show next week -- and Darreners are urged to help shape their own future Councillors want people to make the most of two consultation days set up by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
POLICE are warning people to shut their doors after a burglar stole luxury items from an unsecure house. An intruder went into the property on Marsh House Lane between 2.30pm and 3.30pm on Monday when the door was open because of the humid weather. Luxury
WORLD Cup fever finally arrived in the Ribblesdale League last night when Read staged its first floodlit tournament. The Burnley club held a pyjama party under the glare of temporary floodlights at a buzzing Whalley Road, where the hosts beat Nelson in
THE key stats and moments from the game against Chesterfield. BURNLEY JENSEN - Big Dane dug deep to make the difference in the shoot-out after looking far more assured in goal than Saturday's below-par show 8 ROCHE - Solid as a rock. His blistering pace
THOUSANDS of steam engine enthusiasts look set to descend on Ribble Valley this weekend for a huge vintage rally. Organisers of the 15th Ribble Valley Vintage Club rally are looking forward to a successful event, despite the fact that it is being held
A 16-YEAR-OLD boy described as a "prolific offender" has been made the subject of a two-year anti-social behaviour order after assaulting a police officer. Timothy Bolchover, of St John Street, Great Harwood, will also have to complete a 12-month supervision
A GROUP of travellers were escorted to the county boundary by police using a piece of little-used legislation. Residents were delighted after officers told the travellers to go after they moved up the road from Stanhill Lane, Knuzden, to the Heys playing
A MOTHER-OF-TWO caught weaving all over the road in the early hours was well over the drink-drive limit, magistrates heard. The court was told how sewing machinist Andrea Riley, 34, hit the kerb and drove over the pavement before pulling up at a crematorium
TWO survivors of the Battle of the Atlantic received reminders of their endeavours. Bernard Howson of Saunders Road, Blackburn, and Fred Stubbs of Hudson Street, Accrington collected prints commemorating the 50th anniversary.
A MAN who got behind the wheel for the 14th time while banned has been given a two-month jail term. Darren Phillip Roberts, 23, is currently serving five months behind bars and the new sentence will run at the same time. Roberts was told by Burnley magistrates
PENDLE kids were told that goals are the only thing worth scoring during a weekend football tournament. The anti-drugs event was held to raise awareness of the drug support and treatment options provided through projects like Options For All. Organisers
Tranmere 1 Bury 0 by Richard Mulligan: LEE Connell summed up the feelings of all involved with the Shakers when he asked: "Are we going to get any luck this season, or what?" The omens are not good on that front, with a goal conceded in the last minute
A COLONY of rare newts under threat from a Burnley development is to be saved - by a 'newt barrier' made out of stones and mesh wire. English Nature has written to Burnley Council to tell them it is happy with its plans to protect a colony of great crested
A MAN who twice headbutted a police officer has been given a four-month jail term - a month after being sent down for a year. Burnley magistrates heard how Mark Stephen Wilkinson, 25, who had taken almost 30 sleeping tablets, caused the victim to fall
A PADIHAM mum who campaigned to get the Union Jack flown above the town hall in support of troops in Iraq is celebrating the safe return of her soldier son from the Gulf. Marion Smith welcomed home son James, 29, after his stint in the Middle East with
A HOMELESS man whose body was found in a derelict building in Burnley had died after taking a cocktail of drugs, an inquest was told. Thomas Holland, 40, originally from Rossendale, was found in a downstairs room of a run-down building in Belle Vue Place
FIERCE storms may be to blame after a tree fell onto a car in Preston, injuring five people. A Ford Probe was being driven along Black Bull Lane at around 8.40pm on Sunday, August 10, when the large tree collapsed onto the car. All five people in the
CICCIO Grabbi will get a chance to put himself in the shop window tonight when Rovers reserves kick off the new season against Birmingham City at Morecambe's Christie Park (kick-off 7pm). Grabbi is one of a number of first team players to be named in
BLACKBURN Rovers are sweating on the availability of Brett Emerton for Saturday's Premiership opener against Wolves at Ewood. Graeme Souness's £2.2 million summer signing from Feyenoord currently has a suspension hanging over him from his time in Holland
MARK Patterson will name an unchanged 11 on Wednesday night as he takes his RMI side to Accrington Stanley. The Railwaymen are looking to add the scalp of the Conference new boys to their shock opening day defeat of Dagenham and Redbridge. "We did well
A FAMILY had their home torched after enduring weeks of threats and harassment. Christine Mortin said she and her three children had been left with nothing after the blaze at their home in New Hall Street, Burnley, in the early hours of Tuesday. The home
IN the autumn issue of the Twin Valley Homes newspaper 'Home Matters,' I came across an article about the site where once 50 homes stood on North Road in Blackburn, for which Twin Valley Homes have no immediate plans and have decided to work with the
I'M surprised that British National Party councillor Robin Evans (LET, July 26) can complain about being abused for his politics, when members of his party regularly abuse people for nothing more than their skin colour or religion. Perhaps he wasn't aware
DURING the summer and autumn one of my favourite walks is along the disused railway track which linked Lancaster with the Lune Valley. The painter Turner loved this area of the river and painted several views of it. The river here is otter and kingfisher
IT may seem absurd that a tiny creature could get in the way of a major development which aims to create hundreds of jobs. But the concern for the colony of rare great crested newts threatened by the plan to turn the former Michelin factory site in Burnley
FEW things can be more unpleasant than having to share a street with householders who just don't care about their neighbours. Thankfully most people behave as they would like others to behave to them - showing common courtesy and consideration to those
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Summer Kids Club (4-6 & 7-11), Helmshore Christian Fellowship, Carr's Industrial Estate, Haslingden. Livesey WI meet Livesey Parish Community Hall, York Terrace,
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Shruggs Wood fishing competition, Fishing Pond, West Paddock, Leyland. Draw for pegs 8.30am. Tickets available from Stones Tackle Shop, Golden Hill Lane. Summer Kids
FAMILY, friends and patients gathered to say an emotional farewell to a popular Bury doctor. More than 200 people listened to the poignant service on Tuesday to remember GP Dr Dawn Harris, aged 37, who died on August 3. Her husband, Michael Churchill,
TOO many disadvantaged young people in the North West are being 'locked out' of the jobs market and education system, according to a new report published by the Prince's Trust. But a number of initiatives are working to address the problem in East Lancashire
COUNTY Hall chiefs have ordered staff to think of Third World poverty, by only buying coffee and tea from companies which support poor economies. A new purchasing policy has been introduced by Lancashire County Council which tells staff responsible for
COMMUNITY Action Rossendale has announced the dates of its next two forum meetings. The first takes place on Wednesday, September 10, at 7.30pm, at the Mary Hindle Resource Centre in Bury Road, Haslingden. The venue has not been decided for the second
JOBHUNTERS in Darwen are encouraged to continue searching throughout the summer. Two free workshops will be held this month to help people who are interested in changing jobs or getting back into work. The scheme is aimed particularly at the 177 ex-employees
CHILDREN are urged to make the most of the last week of their summer holiday with a big roadshow afternoon. Paul's CD Roadshow is coming to Darwen on Tuesday, August 26, from 1.30pm to 3.50pm, at Sudellside Community Centre. Sue Freear, centre manager
STAN Ternent hailed have-a-go hero Brian Jensen after the Burnley keeper turned on the style against Chesterfield. Jensen handed the Clarets a Carling Cup second round spot by becoming the hero in a dramatic penalty shoot-out following last night's Saltergate
BLACKBURN Rovers are sweating on the availability of Brett Emerton for Saturday's Premiership opener against Wolves at Ewood. Graeme Souness's £2.2 million summer signing from Feyenoord currently has a suspension hanging over him from his time in Holland
FOGGY PETRONAS Racing will not renew the contract of James Haydon when it expires at the end of this season. Haydon was signed at the beginning of the 2002 season to join Troy Corser in developing the FP1 - the Malaysian superbike. The 28-year-old was
BIG games deserve a big hero - and they don't come any bigger than Brian Jensen! The Danish keeper cut a forlorn figure last weekend after taking the blame for Burnley's defeat to Crystal Palace squarely on his broader-than-broad shoulders. But what better
STAN Ternent hailed have-a-go hero Brian Jensen after the Burnley keeper turned on the style against Chesterfield. Jensen handed the Clarets a Carling Cup second round spot by becoming the hero in a dramatic penalty shoot-out following last night's Saltergate
TWO talented teenagers currently knocking on the first team door at Gigg Lane are Craig Madden and Paul Hilton. Craig, aged 19, was born in Gorton and played his early football at Dialstone Comprehensive School in Stockport. He went into the plastering
EAST Lancashire's answer to the Williams sisters are taking the tennis world by game, set and match! Bradley babes Jessica, 15, and Francesca, 14, have just faced each other in the final of their first prestigious tournament. Now, like their tennis idols
MEMBERS of an anti-racism group are to gather at the Clitheroe Castle gates on Saturday for a four-hour vigil. The gathering is in response to a festival being held by the British National Party near Sawley this weekend. Ribble Valley Against Racism will
A RETIRED farmer blasted himself in the head with his shotgun because of concerns over his finances, an inquest was told. The inquest heard that 86-year-old Joseph Edwin Shepherd was worried he would not be able to pay his wife's care home fees and keep
RESIDENTS in Longridge have welcomed a new bus service providing them a link to Preston via the city's Royal Hospital. The number 45 service will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, leaving Longridge Post Office at 9.35am, 11.35am and 1.35pm. It will
BURY'S bid to jump up the recycling league is set to receive another multi-million pound boost. The borough could share in a further £135 million to set up and improve local waste management schemes. It comes on top of new projects which have recently
COUNCILLORS overturned a controversial freeze on housebuilding to allow a care home owner to develop his land to fund an extension to his business. Members of Hyndburn Council's planning committee rejected the officer's recommendation refusing Ray Pullinger
POLICE are urging young cyclists to be on their guard after two 12-year-old boys had their bikes stolen -- one at knifepoint -- in separate incidents. The first victim was playing in a park, off Railway Street, Great Harwood, at 7.45pm on Monday, with
A TEENAGER returned home to Pendle after working with scientists in one of the world's greatest wetlands. Anna Watson of Colne Road, Trawden, helped compile a survey of the Pripyat Marshes in the Ukraine.
THE SEARCH is on to find East Lancashire's Neighbour of the Year as part of our Pride of East Lancashire Campaign. A number of nominations are for individuals who have helped one particular neighbour or a small group of residents in one street. But Karen
A MAN whose mother gave him a kidney to save his life committed crime because he thought he was dying. Father-to-be Garry Stephen Morgan, 23, said to be a persistent offender, was yesterday spared jail after getting behind the wheel while banned. Burnley
A MAN on anti-depressents died after taking three times the lethal limit of his prescribed drugs. Craig Matthew Moore, 31, was found dead in a room in at the Hendley Hotel, Colne, on September 4 last year. Burnley Coroner's Court heard he had been sharing
BARNOLDSWICK will continue to buzz this this weekend with three more events in the town's festival programme. A group from Barnoldswick Baptist Church, in Manchester Road, will build more bugs on Saturday and anyone can join in. They will transform recycled
PENDLE will welcome a delegation of foreign friends when young people from France and Germany arrive as part of a trip organised by the Pendle Twinning Association. More than 20 visitors from the Continent will join the thousands who throng to Colne during
THE Environment Agency is investigating claims that workmen dumped rubble into a family-run nursery through a hole in a hedge. Barbara Moss, 51, who runs Springwood Nurseries, Springwood Road, Burnley, complained to the government body after she discovered
A ROWDY drunkard who has made the lives of her neighbours a misery is back behind bars for the third time in weeks. Maralynne Birchenough, 52, believed to be the oldest woman in the county to have been made subject of an Anti Social Behaviour Order, was
POLICE have called off the search for missing Burnley youngster Daniel Entwistle, who disappeared from home more than three months ago. The seven-year-old, who was born in Burnley and lived with his mum, Paula, 30, and dad, David, 41, in Peel Street,
PARISH councillors are to meet the chief engineer of Burnley Council to discuss the possibility of 20mph becoming the speed limit for the whole village. The meeting is to take place in the village so that the chief engineer can see for himself the "dangerous
AN investigation is under way after two suspected arson attacks at houses in Branch Road, Burnley, last night Fires were reported at separate houses at 7pm and 11.30pm. Firefighters said on both occasions lit waste paper was pushed through window frames
COUNTY Hall chiefs have ordered staff to think of Third World poverty, by only buying coffee and tea from companies which support poor economies. A new purchasing policy has been introduced by Lancashire County Council which tells staff responsible for
A PIGEON lover was today accused of putting a neighbour's life at risk because his birds are affecting her incurable lung condition. Nicola Mackenzie, 10, of Stansfeld Street, Blackburn, needs steroids, inhalers and twice-daily physiotherapy for cystic
A MAN, aged 21, accused of murdering a five-week-old baby has been allowed conditional bail while his case is sent to Manchester Crown Court. Andrew James Ashurst, of Formby Avenue, Atherton, is charged with murdering Leah Marie Aldridge on December 23
AN Atherton man, aged 21, is due to appear in court on Wednesday charged with the murder of his five-week-old daughter. Leah Aldridge was admitted to the accident and emergency department at the Royal Bolton Hospital with breathing difficulties last year
WE are a group of people who wish to open up the debate with regard to regional assemblies and what it will mean to the people of Britain -- the North West in particular. As we have already learned from the devolved parliament in Scotland and the Welsh
WHAT a brilliant event the Oakhill Park Festival, in Accrington, turned out to be. After a week of rain, even the sun turned out. There was a very small minority who were obviously there to drink as much as they could, but most people just relaxed, had
I DO not think Tom Cunningham's story about having his A-level results withheld (LET, August 6) by Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Blackburn because his final term fees had not been paid was front page material. Special financial provision made for
I OFTEN write about sightings of the pretty grey squirrel and I almost always get letters of complaint pointing out that they are a nuisance and are ugly tree rats imported from North America in the 1870s. I only half agree: They were brought in from
IN East Lancashire we are lucky enough to live close to limestone areas, especially around Clitheroe but also in areas above Cliviger. Limestone soils warm up quickly and are well drained, which means that some delightful plants grow on them. These are
