CONTACT names and numbers for your local police: Prestwich Township: Inspector David Jones, tel 856 8201; Sgt Ian Campbell, tel 856 4537; front desk 856 4532; Constables main office 856 4538 Whitefield Township: Inspector David Jones, tel 856 8201; Sgt
VOLUNTEERS in Burnley are on the lookout for their next community project. Teenagers volunteering with the Prince's Trust in Burnley are searching for their next assignment which could be anything from painting a local hospice to sprucing up a communal
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today spoke of his frustration in the transfer market as he struggles to sign the players he wants in preparation for next season. So far this summer, Souness's only foray into the market has seen Paul Dickov join the club
A 150ft reverse bungee jump is not the traditional way to raise cash for charity, but for one couple it was the highlight of a whistle-stop tour of the UK's theme parks. Janet and Graham Bailey, of Thrush Lane, Bury, visited 16 theme parks in one week
THE European elections brought good news for the Liberal Democrats and the UK Independence Party. The Lib Dems doubled their number of North West MEPs to two, while the UKIP took a seat for the first time in the region. Labour and the Conservatives each
BURY'S returning officer has admitted that a missing bundle of voters' declaration forms has still not shown up. The missing batch caused a delay in Redvales ward, because tellers had counted 48 more votes than they had matching declarations. Mr Mark
THE row over statues - who and how many there should be in Blackburn reached the point of ridicule following the intervention of Coun Eddie Harrison. They have always been redundancies in manufacturing. The problem arises when the job loses outnumber
WHAT message is being given out by all these car drivers who display the England flag? Presumably it gives out the message that the car drivers are fine upstanding Englishmen. Why then did I see a car with not one but two flags aloft, parked in a Disabled
ONE OF the main misconceptions about hospices is that people go there to die. Today as East Lancashire Hospice celebrates its 20th birthday, staff, volunteers and patients have spoken out to dispel that myth. WHEN the doors initially opened at the main
THIS week is international refugee week. In 2003 there were over 10 million refugees worldwide. The main source of those refugees were the countries of Afghanistan, Burundi and Sudan. Contrary to popular belief, it is neighbouring countries that house
From the Guide files, June 8, 1979: PRESTWICH Catholic Club had their licence cancelled after selling drinks to non-members. Police raided the premises and found that 22 non-members were drinking there. PHOTOGRAPHS that had featured in the Guide were
Paul Stanley Photographic Exhibition, Mid Pennine Arts Gallery, Yorke Street, Burnley. Until June 26. "Matisse: Jazz" Exhibition, Towneley Hall, Burnley. Until June 27. Burnley and Pendle Speakers Club, Brierfield Town Hall, 7.30pm. First and third Thursday
POLICE are appealing for video footage of a seaside motorbike tragedy in which a 16-year-old Blackburn schoolboy died. The move came as the headteacher at Steven Anderton's school paid tribute to the teenager who "lived life to the full." Officers hope
PLAYTIME was ruined for a primary school reception class after callous thieves struck over the weekend, taking five new pedal cycles. The bikes, which were less than a year old, had been stored securely in a locked shed at St Thomas' CE School, Newton
GENEROUS donations from a Muslim charity will boost the diagnosis and treatment of cancers in East Lancashire. The Muslim Welfare Institute has given £770 to the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. The money was given to the Magic Fund which was set
SUPERMARKETS across Lancashire are bracing themselves for 'Euro 2004 BBQ-mania' as a mini-heatwave is due as the tournament progresses. TV weather presenter John Kettley, a Burnley FC fan, predicted a heatwave for mid-July but it looks like it may have
POLICE sealed off three Blackburn streets after receiving reports of a gun being fired. Three Iraqi asylum seekers were arrested when police were called to the London Road area of the town. Armed response officers sealed off streets on Saturday and searched
TRAGIC biker Jon Glover was due to act as a mentor to one of his best friend's young children this weekend, it emerged today. Friends David and Claire Pollitt had asked the motorcyclist, who was killed when his motorcycle collided with a van in Nelson
A COUPLE at the centre of a row over a trapped sparrow suffered days of harassment before vandals smashed open a ventilation grille to free the bird. The house sparrow chick became stuck inside a wall of the house in the Avondale area of Darwen last week
The top three candidates were elected in each ward. BESSES *Derek Boden (Lab)...1,724 *Alan Matthews (Lab)...1,514 *Ken Audin (Lab)...1,424 Mark Roberts (Con)...830 Julian Kershner (Con)...783 Winifred Rohmann (Lib Dem)...681 Chava Odze (Con)...657 Turnout
LABOUR clung on to power in Bury Council after a dramatic Friday recount following voting discrepancies in one key ward. Some 48 votes "too many" were counted in Redvales, when the socialists were still one seat short of winning outright control of the
THE Bull's Head at Wilpshire, Blackburn, reopens this week after a major refurbishment. It has been closed for five weeks for improvements to be carried out and a special preview evening was held on Friday to give regulars and potential new customers
IT'S two months since Emma Massey and Simon Hodgkinson lost their only son, Joshua, after leaving him at the home of a child minder. They spoke to reporter DAVID HIGGERSON about the pain of living with their loss every day. A CHILD'S first footsteps,
THE parents of a toddler who died at a childminder's home today revealed their heartache at having to hold a second funeral for their son. Joshua Massey-Hodgkinson died aged 19 months at a house in Eightacre Avenue, Sabden, while his parents were on a
ROYAL Lancashire Show bosses today insisted they had learned the lessons of last year's "disaster" after the 2004 event was finally given the green light. The show, at Salesbury Hall, near Ribchester, was abandoned amid traffic chaos and bad weather last
FRIENDS of a popular teacher who died in a diving accident off the coast of Ireland have raised hundreds of pounds in her memory. A coffee morning in honour of Heather Schofield, 25, was held in Clitheroe Town Hall on Saturday morning, arranged by members
A 25-YEAR-OLD was badly hurt when his motorcycle collided with a car on the A59 at Clitheroe. Scott Wilson Mayer, of Boswell Close, Darwen, suffered multiple breaks to his left leg and was airlifted by ambulance to Royal Preston Hospital. The head-on
VETERAN Labour councillor Derek Boden, from Whitefield, has been awarded the OBE for services to local government in the Queen's Birthday Honours. He been a serving councillor for 32 years and has just been re-elected for a further four years -- representing
MANUFACTURING firms have stopped cutting jobs and have seen the biggest upturn in orders for more than seven years, a new report has revealed. Output and orders in the second quarter of the year grew at the fastest pace since 1996, according to research
A DEDICATED family of football fans today vowed never to part with their treasured keepsakes - despite seeing a relative's memorabilia exchanging hands for big money. Rare football artefacts fetched over the expected price at Sotheby's last week. Items
COUNCIL chiefs have pledged to work more closely with bus operators to help improve services in the town following criticism by the North West Traffic Comm-issioner. At a hearing which stripped Accrington Buses and two members of the Pilkington family
EDDIE Moscrop, the only surviving member of the Burnley FC team which won the 1914 FA Cup against Liverpool, received a bottle of champagne from this newspaper on behalf of readers, the day before his 90th birthday. Eddie, who lived at Southport, also
COTTON weaving and spinning employers received an application for a 10 per cent wages increase for 300,000 operatives. A joint meeting was due between employers, the Northern Counties Textile Trades Federation and the Spinners and Cardroom Workers Amalgamation
BUDDING Kylie Minogues and Will Youngs are being invited to audition for a special Stars in Their Eyes competition in Colne. The contest is being organised by Burnley's Brunshaw Action Group for young people in Burnley and Pendle. The Colne heat is being
A MAN of 28 man has been cleared by a jury of twice having sex with a 13-year-old schoolgirl. Christopher Garnett was found not guilty of two allegations of unlawful sexual intercourse after a trial at Burnley Crown Court. The defendant, of Brunswick
HOSPICE Care for Burnley and Pendle is counting on support from local residents for its latest fundraising initiative. They are planning a charity trip to the Leeds Television Studios to see Channel Four's Countdown show recorded live. The hospice trip
ORGANISERS of a lifesaver contest want the people of East Lancashire to blow their own trumpets. The closing date for the the Vodafone Daily Express Lifesavers Awards competition is approaching yet there have been very few nominations from people in the
ELECTION officers in East Lancashire are set to be quizzed by a House of Commons committee about this year's all-postal election pilot. Returning officers at all local authorities taking part in the voting experiment have been asked for their judgements
A POOP Scoop Awareness Day was held at Towneley Park as part of a bid to encourage responsible dog ownership. Poop Scoop Day was the joint effort of Burnley Borough Council's Environmental Health and Cleansing Team, Operation Red Card staff and the Dogs
THREE people from Bury are featured in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. There is an OBE for veteran Labour councillor Derek Boden while former school caretaker John Davenport, from Ramsbottom, and Pension Service executive Charlotte Ann Piper, from
A TEENAGER was pushed to the ground and robbed by two men as he made his way home from a night out. The 19-year-old was walking along Rochdale Road, Bury, close to Openshaw Park, on Friday at around 11.15pm. One of the men rugby-tackled him to the floor
TORIES have warned two East Lancashire Labour MPs that their worst fears have been realised after voters in a new ward returned three Conservative councillors. Blackburn MP Jack Straw and Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson said they did not want
PUSHING a full supermarket trolley with wonky wheels is already hard enough work - but soon it could offer a real workout. Thanks to Tesco, shoppers in Hill Street, Blackburn, may soon be able to get fit simply by doing their weekly shop. The "Trim Trolley
PUPILS will be encouraged to score higher in their lessons this week - with lesson plans designed around Euro 2004. The Government is sending out advice to East Lancashire schools about how best to weave football themes into lessons for the youngsters
A 35-YEAR-old woman claimed benefits despite having two jobs, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that Joanne Hadfield received £6,104 over 20 months, which she was not entitled to. Hadfield, 35, of Highbank, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to failing
CONSERVATIVE councillors won an overwhelming victory at two parish elections. The results for North Turton and Livesey were returned as the dust started to settle after the Blackburn with Darwen council elections. In Livesey, an all-Tory parish council
A BACUP traffic policemen was one of two officers who threw sickies at work so they could moonlight as businessmen touting for lucrative work contracts, a court heard. Sgt Geoffrey Roberts and colleague PC Howard Jones, both 46, raked in a total of £86,000
A DISABLED man who attacked a terrified 15-year-old boy left him with a swollen lip, cut and bruised. Burnley magistrates heard how depressed Graham Whitworth, 21, had been told to leave the victim as he was "just a kid" but had threatened to "have him
POLICE are warning parents of the dangers of ballbearing guns after a recent spate of incidents in Rawtenstall left a teenager with facial injuries and a cat needing emergency surgery. And officers believe youngsters are buying the weapons for as little
THE fell-runner who collapsed and died on Holcombe Moor was today named as Frank Whittaker. The father-of-two from Holcombe Brook died after suffering a heart attack while out running with a friend shortly after 7pm on Friday. His family today said they
WORK is due to start in Darwen this week to transform a historic building which has stood empty for around 10 years into apartments. And former ward councillor Derek Brindle is delighted the former Darwen Technical College is being put to good use after
DARWEN and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson today backed Government moves to overhaul gambling laws. The Government is to ban fruit machines in chip shops and minicab offices at the same time as allowing million-pound jackpots for 'one-armed bandits' in Britain's
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today spoke of his frustration in the transfer market as he struggles to sign the players he wants in preparation for next season. So far this summer, Souness's only foray into the market has seen Paul Dickov join the club
BURNLEY have given their backing to ambitious plans which could revolutionise the game in the Football League next season. Several ground-breaking proposals could be introduced into the league next term subject to FIFA approval, including the implementation
POLICE are hunting a teenager with a "wonky eye" after he attacked a woman in a playground. Shortly before noon on Thursday, a 42-year-old woman was walking through the children's park in Victoria Lane, Whitefield, when she was approached from behind
BURNLEY have given their backing to ambitious plans which could revolutionise the game in the Football League next season. Several ground-breaking proposals could be introduced into the league next term subject to FIFA approval, including the implementation
RESIDENTS who whinge about children playing football in the street were today warned they could ruin the national game. Councillors at one East Lancashire authority said they were sick and tired of people complaining about budding David Beckhams having
HOTEL manager Janet Simpson was told not to work her artificial knee too hard by doctors - but she has just completed a five-day trek through the Peruvian Andes. The 62-year-old, who owns the Gibbon Bridge Hotel in Chipping, took art in an exhausting
NORTH-west companies are targeting the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) more than ever before, according to corporate lawyers in the region. AIM is attractive to companies and investors because of its lighter regulations and soaring stocks compared
SHIFT workers are more likely to have accidents or suffer from depression because of their "exhausting" work patterns, according to a survey by Insurance firm Zurich. It found that working irregular hours caused other problems such as insomnia and memory
A MAN was attacked as he was climbing into his car with his young son by a thief who stole takeaway food. The 27-year-old victim had just bought the food from a shop in Willows Lane, Accrington. He had put the food and his son into his car, and was attacked
IN last Friday's local election coverage, we incorrectly stated that in Hyndburn the Conservative Party gained one seat from Labour. The Conservatives in fact gained two seats from Labour - one in Accrington Central and one Netherton ward, Great Harwood
A FIREFIGHTER suffered horrific injuries when a gas cylinder exploded at a barn blaze, at Heightside Farm, Bury Fold Lane, near Darwen. Father-of-two David Helmn was treated by paramedics and an emergency doctor, as 50 firefighters tackled the blaze.
A GREEN campaigner has criticised council and Environment Agency bosses for leaving a deer to rot near a children's playground. Brian Jackson, of Pendle Friends of the Earth, has branded it "outrageous" that a dead deer's body is still in Colne Water
A CYCLIST from Radcliffe has died after being involved in a crash at a busy road junction in Bolton. The 44-year-old man was cycling along Crompton Way, near the junction of Bury Road, when he was in collision with a Toyota Corolla, which had already
A BANNED drink driver who smashed his car and then walked off, has been jailed for almost six months. Burnley magistrates heard how Mark Anderson, 41, had been on prison licence for similar offences and was subject to two disqualifications, when he hit
A PROMISING student who returned to his Brierfield home for the summer holidays has died after a car crash today. Waqar Zulfiqar, 20, of Sackville Street, suffered serious injuries and died after the white Honda Civic he was driving hit parked cars and
STAFF, pupils and parents at a primary school are celebrating after being given national recognition for promoting sport. Two celebratory sports days will be held at Bradley primary school next week after the school was awarded an Activemark award from
THE importance of good food hygiene is being stressed in a new appeal by Pendle Council's environmental health chief. The appeal comes at the start of National Food Safety week which aims to reduce the incidence of food poisoning. Stuart Arnott, Pendle's
A BANNED motorist who clocked up his third drink driving offence has walked free from court. Burnley magistrates heard how binge drinker Stuart Mathew Green, 20, was more than twice the limit after police found his car on its roof in the middle of the
A BURNLEY headteacher today vowed not to let firebugs destroy her pupils' dream of setting up their own allotment at the school. Vandals wrecked the plastic greenhouse at St Stephen's Primary School, Woodgrove Road, when they set fire to it over the weekend
A 94-YEAR-OLD man was targeted by a man who conned his way into his home. The pensioner was today said to be very distressed by incident in which several hundred pounds were stolen. Police said the offender approached the elderly man outside his house
PRESTWICH Pharmacy is inviting diabetics to discuss any concerns they may have about their condition. As part of Diabetes Week, which started on Monday (June 14), the pharmacy in Fairfax Road is offering advice on diet, lifestyle and managing diabetes
THREE people from Bury are featured in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. There is an OBE for veteran Labour councillor Derek Boden while former school caretaker John Davenport, from Ramsbottom, and Pension Service executive Charlotte Ann Piper, from
A DRIVER jailed for four years after causing the death of a teenage passenger in a country road crash has got the go-ahead to challenge his sentence. David James Fogg (20), of Lowercroft Road, Bury, was sentenced to four years detention at Bolton Crown
THE parents of a toddler who died at a childminder's home today revealed their heartache at having to hold a second funeral for their son. Joshua Massey-Hodgkinson died aged 19 months at a house in Eightacre Avenue, Sabden, while his parents were on a
A PROMISING student who returned to his Brierfield home for the summer holidays has died after a car crash today. Waqar Zulfiqar, 20, of Sackville Street, suffered serious injuries and died after the white Honda Civic he was driving hit parked cars and
A FELL-runner collapsed and died on Holcombe Moor. Mr Frank Whittaker, from Holcombe Brook, suffered a suspected heart attack while out running with a friend on Friday night. The pair had reached Pilgrim's Cross when Mr Whittaker began struggling for
LEIGH MP Andy Burnham has been criticised for taking part in a McDonald's sponsored trip to the European football championships. Mr Burnham was one of 17 MPs, members of the All Party Parliamentary Football Group, who accepted invitations for a four-day
JUDGING by recent editions of the LET a status for Baroness Castle is still a controversial issue. In my previous correspondence I have tried to let the facts speak for themselves and I regret that some local figures are in danger of turning the discussion
BURNLEY residents raised £51.12 on World Animal Lab Day to help the fight for the 100 million animals which suffer and die in experiments every year. The money raised will go towards establishing further highly effective non-animal research techniques
BLACKBURN Arts Club is already looking ahead by announcing its new season of plays and will hold a series of read throughs for potential cast members. The season gets under way with One O'Clock From the House, described as a 'scorching comedy' set around
THEY do say time flies when you are having fun. Well I must be having fun, well I must be having a lot of it, because every time I turn round it's weekend, and here we are, almost at the longest day. And I feel that I have only just got over Christmas
SOME of our best footballing talent in recent memory learnt their trade in the streets, kicking balls about for hours on end. Rovers legends Simon Garner and Ronnie Clayton were among those who delighted generations of fans with their skills. But if they
From the Guide files of Friday, June 15, 1979: SCHOOLBOY Andrew May (15), lived every footballer's dream by playing at Wembley Stadium. Andrew, a pupil at St Peter's Grammar School, Prestwich, was included in the English Schoolboys team against West Germany
