Archive

  • The 'menace' of street football

    I MIGHT be a professional moaner myself but I make no apologies for this week's target: those whinging NIMBYs who don't like kids playing football. Councillors in the Ribble Valley have had a real go at some people living in the area who pester them at

  • NATURE: Orange tip thrives with Jack

    ADULT butterflies are like our cars - they do not grow but they do need feeding with fuel. This is why they visit plants in order to visit a "filling station" which has "pumps" full of nectar. The growing stage is the caterpillar which needs a specialised

  • Park View race to title

    BURY Sports Development and Bury Sports Club organised and hosted this year's local Kwik Cricket Tournament, which proved to be a huge success. With volunteers assisting from Bury College and the Sports Club, eight teams from all over the Borough fought

  • Bury forced to concede title

    "FRUSTRATION" is perhaps the only word to describe the best week for Bury Pedal-Sport, when two more Northern Alliance defeats finally killed off any lingering hope the team had of retaining the championship they won last year. An epic battle with near

  • Thanks for getting action

    MY husband and I would like to thank you (LET, June 8) for highlighting our problem with the grass verge in front of our house. Also, we would like to thank Councillor Derek Hardman for all his help in solving the problem and also Peter Hunt (director

  • System violates our privacy

    IN the good old days, the secrecy of the ballot box was supposed to be sacrosanct and nobody was allowed to know how I had voted or even if I had voted. If I chose to, I could give a card to party servants outside the polling station telling them that

  • Yes, there is a need for mobile cameras

    I WRITE with reference to new speed wardens (LET, June 10). Mr Andrew Klavins obviously travels along Preston New Road every morning delivering his child to Westholme School and must be blind if he does not realise that, yes traffic does slow down to

  • Litter: The answer is down to us

    I HAVE seen a lot of letters and stories in this newspaper about litter lately and most right-minded people would obviously agree it's really awful having to walk out on the streets covered in trash. But my question to everyone is, why aren't we doing

  • WE QUIT! Six labour councillors leave

    LABOUR has lost overall control of Blackburn with Darwen Council for the first time in 21 years after the shock resignation of six councillors. The six are believed to have quit the Labour group after a row over the re-selection of councillors to serve

  • Rovers close on Spaniard

    BLACKBURN Rovers have opened talks with Real Sociedad winger Javier de Pedro. Ewood chief Graeme Souness has switched his attentions to the Spanish international after scrapping his interest in Morten Gamst Pedersen. Souness today confirmed that talks

  • Samurai man leaves hospital

    A man who underwent a six-hour operation after having his hand slashed in two when attacked with a Samurai sword has left hospital. The victim, in his 20s, was set upon by a gang of around 12 men after they pulled up in three cars in Brougham Street,

  • Police linking street attacks to gang

    POLICE believe two robberies in 30 minutes in Burnley are connected. In the first attack, a 37-year-old man suffered a fractured cheekbone, broken nose, black eye and cuts to his lips and mouth as he walked along Briercliffe Road at 12.30am on Sunday.

  • Danger junction set for mock-up crash

    A NOTORIOUS accident hot spot in Padiham will be the venue for a staged car crash this month. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, as well as police and ambulance works will use shock tactics to drive home vital road safety messages. In the past three

  • Gigg summer sale

    SHAKERS supporters will have to be quick to take advantage of a summer sale that sees prices slashed across the store. Replica home shirts are now on sale for just £5 and sweaters range from just £3.99 to £12.99 in price. This is one of the biggest sales

  • Shakers 'promoted' in league shake-up

    IT makes you wonder whether all the stress of finishing in mid-table was worth it, after the Shakers ended up getting promoted after all! writes Peter Collins No more third division football for Bury, it's division two, or 'League Two' for the Gigg Lane

  • Walk across the bay for the hospice

    WALKERS can help Pendleside Hospice by taking part in a Morecambe Bay Walk on Sunday, August 8. It costs £10, including transport to and from the hospice. Anyone sponsored to raise money for the Reedley hospice can travel and do the walk free. The walk

  • 'New' group to boost business

    A COLNE businesswoman is fronting an appeal to boost East Lancashire business. Wendy Bowers, of Colne-based consultants Hilton Bowers Associates, is one of the three founders of a support network which is being set up to help local entrepreneurs. The

  • 10 Years Ago

    FORMER Blackburn Rovers ace Len Butt died at the age of 83. Len played at Ewood between 1936 and 1947 and won a Division Two Championship medal as well as a runners-up medal for the 1940 war time FA Cup Final. He died at his home in Macclesfield after

  • 50 Years Ago

    KATHLEEN Stott, of Lammack Road, Blackburn, became the town's first ever tennis player to qualify for the All England Championships at Wimbledon. Miss Scott beat Miss J Godffrey 6-4 7-5 during a qualifying match held at the Northern Lawn Tennis Club in

  • 25 Years Ago

    EAST Lancashire businesses were in the grip of a Budget boom as shoppers snapped up VAT goods before price increases came in. Money savers rushed to stores as soon as their doors opened and by lunchtime traders were describing it as chaotic. Spirits,

  • Swinging time at the Scouts open day

    A 1,000-STRONG group of Cub Scouts descended on Bowley Scout camp in Great Harwood to enjoy adventure activities and a special open day. Organisers were delighted to see members of the Asian community joining in. The 47-acre site boasts a climbing tower

  • Bosses to look at care for blind

    HEALTH bosses will look at facilities for the blind in Lancashire after a report claimed GPs were not fully aware of their needs. A report by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association said more than 57 per cent of those surveyed felt aspects of GP service

  • Ann's story aims to inspire

    DETERMINED Ann Whitaker is hoping to inspire others with her autobiography - which the cerebral palsy sufferer typed with just one finger. Disabled Ann, 39, who lives at Accrington's Roughlee care home, put together her first book after she studied writing

  • Queen's Honour for veteran Derek

    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

  • Booze seized at Valley festival

    DOZENS of people had their booze confiscated by police trying to prevent a Ribble Valley town's annual festival being wrecked by drink-fuelled violence. But despite seizing - and disposing of - a large haul of alcohol on the streets of Longridge, Ribble

  • Cotterill confident

    STEVE Cotterill is urging Burnley fans not to panic as he continues to close in on his transfer targets. The new Clarets chief shares the frustrations of supporters eagerly awaiting a flood of new faces at Turf Moor. Cotterill has already identified several

  • Darwen denied at the death

    DARWEN lost a thrilling encounter with Leyland Motors off the penultimate ball in their latest NPL Thwaite's 20-20 Cup match. Darwen batted first and were soon reeling on 22 for three as Shackleton and Makinson made early in roads. However, Neil Cordingley

  • Barrow back in the hunt

    HAVING celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary by serenading his wife in Sorrento, Shakers' boss Graham Barrow is back at Gigg Lane. Having set himself a target of an 18-strong first team squad, he is back on the phone trying to achieve his target. "I've

  • Sign for Lifeline benefits

    RADCLIFFE Boro are inviting fans to join their exciting Lifeline scheme for the coming season. Lifeline members receive a free replica home or away Boro shirt, entry to all home league and cup fixtures, free matchday programme and half-time refreshments

  • Rovers close on Spaniard

    BLACKBURN Rovers have opened talks with Real Sociedad winger Javier de Pedro. Ewood chief Graeme Souness has switched his attentions to the Spanish international after scrapping his interest in Morten Gamst Pedersen. Souness today confirmed that talks

  • Medal haul for top kids

    IT proved to be a successful weekend for Bury's youngsters in the Connexions Greater Manchester Youth Games. The talented Bury squad made the short trip to Bolton to take part in a wide range of sports encompassing ages 11-17 and including both boys and

  • Lions taught valuable lesson

    LONDON SKOLARS...28 LIONS...26: LIONS travelled down to the capital on Sunday for the tough National League Two test against the Skolars and came back pointless, as the home side snatched victory in the dying minutes of the match. Coach Paul Kidd was

  • Honour for two Scouts

    TWO Darwen Scouts were given the honour of travelling with the deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Blackburn with Darwen to one a civic engagement. Twelve-year-old Thomas Leger and 14-year-old Oliver Halliwell, members of the Whitehall Scout Troop, acted as

  • Fan fighting 'soccer hooligan' label

    A SUSPECTED "football hooligan" was arrested at Heathrow Airport as he tried to make his way to Portugal to watch the Euro 2004 championships. Blackburn Rovers fan Stephen Collins is now contesting police moves to get a Football Banning Order preventing

  • Help if you want to kick the habit

    SMOKERS who want to kick the habit are being offered help by a Bacup-based family group. Bacup and Stacksteads Sure Start is running an afternoon session every Wednesday at its King Street offices. There will be additional sessions on Tuesdays from 5pm

  • Theatre group's charity boost

    ROSSENDALE Players raised £500 for the Rotary Club at a charity evening with a performance of 'Nobody's Perfect'. Organisers said a full house at the Royal Court Theatre, Rochdale Road, Bacup, revelled in the performance of Simon Williams' comedy. Rossendale

  • Thief wants fresh start

    A DRUG-ADDICTED thief was sick and tired of his lifestyle and wanted to give it up, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how Richard Anthony Whittaker, 29, had been to prison at least seven times and nothing had stopped him offending. Whittaker

  • Boro look for 5-a-side help

    RADCLIFFE Boro are looking for someone to join their team to run the Stainton Park 5-a-side complex. The ideal person should have coaching qualifications and would be expected to supervise the running of the centre on a full-time basis between the hours

  • 'Riot Squad' linked to school break-in

    A TEEN gang linked to a spate of attacks at a Blackburn primary school are thought to be behind damage at a second school. Longshaw Junior School in Crosby Road, Blackburn, was broken into over the weekend and damage caused. It took place following similar

  • Cycling show to hit the county's roads

    A COMPUTERISED bicycle will test the mettle of would-be Lance Armstrongs in a cycling roadshow that is due to criss-cross Lancashire. The Lancashire County Council roadshow will feature a bicycle linked electronically to a computer and screen, to make

  • Probe into bike death

    THE national motorcycle governing body has launched its own investigation into the death of a Blackburn teenager at a seafront time trial. The Auto Cycle Union will try to shed light on what happened when 16-year-old Steven Anderton crashed into a wall

  • Plan for those with learning problems

    ACCESS to healthcare for people with learning disabilities is set to improve under a new initiative being launched next week. The Action for Health Framework for people with learning disabilities in Blackburn with Darwen is being implemented after it

  • Brothers jailed for axe and hammer attack

    TWO brothers who almost severed the hand of a man they were involved in a bitter dispute with were jailed at the High Court in London. Midgtaba Ali, 19, and his brother Mustafa, 20, of Montague Street, Blackburn, had pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court

  • Demolition plan for council office block

    A COUNCIL office block in Blackburn town centre could be demolished after officials revealed they would have to spend £760,000 on repairs. The Jubilee House offices, close to the railway station, will be marketed for private businesses to create a new

  • Student dies in cliff plunge

    A TEENAGER plunged 150ft from a cliff-top path in Cornwall after being frightened by a barking dog. Asif Bharucha, 17, a business studies student at Blackburn College, died while on a college-organised walking trip yesterday. Fellow students and three

  • WE QUIT! Six labour councillors leave

    LABOUR has lost overall control of Blackburn with Darwen Council for the first time in 21 years after the shock resignation of six councillors. The six are believed to have quit the Labour group after a row over the re-selection of councillors to serve

  • Mindless yobs spoiling party

    THEY'RE a national disgrace. For two nights in a row, England 'fans' have gone on the rampage in the Portuguese resort of Albufeira. The first night's violence was generously described as a 'minor' incident by the authorities. That charitable view came

  • Eleanor, 11, scoops poster title

    A BLACKBURN youngster has fought off national competition to land first prize in a prestigious poster contest. Eleanor Scott, 11, a pupil at Westholme School, Blackburn, won first prize in a National Food Safety Week schools poster competition, organised

  • Crews' school plea

    FIREFIGHTERS have urged on education bosses to secure disused school buildings after two arson attacks. Crews were returning to their base off Byrom Street, Blackburn, when they spotted smoke coming from the old St Wilfrid's High School annex. They went

  • Give me my money back!

    I MUST have imagined that I had been prosecuted for doing 33mph and 37mph in Spring Lane, Blackburn. The £120 fine and six points never happened. Get real Ms Sanderson or get your facts right. Or will you give me my money back? I should be so lucky. B

  • Manager has facts wrong

    I FEEL a little sorry for Linda Sanderson, communications manager, Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, Preston (Letters, June 9) as it would appear that she is not quite up to speed on the subject of speeding tickets being issued for driving under

  • Witness plea after woman, 22, raped

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a woman was raped. The 22-year-old had been on a night out with friends on June 4 at the Hare and Hounds pub, Lowton Road, Golborne. At about 11.30pm, she left her friends by the Wine Grow to walk home alone. She

  • The Gone in 60 Seconds Gang

    A BURNLEY man has admitted being part of a crime gang dubbed the "Gone In 60 Seconds Crew" which ran a £6m car theft racket which spanned the world. Naveed Parvez, 28, was part of a five-man gang that ran what police described as "an organised crime syndicate

  • KEELEY: Wake-up call is what we needed

    THREE days have passed since our gut-wrenching defeat at the hands of the French and I still can't quite understand how we managed to blow it. But Zinedine Zidane's late heroics may just turn out to be the wake-up call we need after all the ridiculous

  • A fair record

    MORE than £2,000 was raised for school funds at Worsthorne Primary School's summer fair. This is the third year the event, organised by Worsthorne School Parents' Group, has been held. And this year's was the biggest and best yet, raising £2,235, which

  • Hanged woman left warning letter

    A WOMAN found hanging in her Burnley home had written a message to her family on the wall, saying she loved them and she was sorry. An inquest heard that Margaret Devitt, 31, had lost contact with her brother and sisters when she went into care at the

  • Work starts on bridge revamp

    WORK has started to improve a River Calder footbridge. Contractors working on behalf of Lancashire County Council's bridges section are updating the bridge which crosses the river between Ightenhill Park Lane, next to Pendle Hall Farm, Burnley, and Grove

  • Hangover pill: Storm brewing

    AN ANTI-ALCOHOL campaigner has issued a warning over a new hangover remedy amid fears it could encourage binge drinking. The pill, RU-21, went on sale in the shops this week with the slogan "You may be thankful in the morning". The distributor, southern-based

  • Cash boost for pupils proposed

    FUNDING could treble for special educational needs children in some mainstream primary schools under proposals by the county council. A new system of 'bidding' for cash would replace the present system of 'statementing' children if changes by Lancashire

  • The Gone in 60 Seconds Gang

    A BURNLEY man has admitted being part of a crime gang dubbed the "Gone In 60 Seconds Crew" which ran a £6m car theft racket which spanned the world. Naveed Parvez, 28, was part of a five-man gang that ran what police described as "an organised crime syndicate

  • Dead addict's poem tells of drug danger

    A POEM written by a Brierfield heroin addict who died from an overdose could be used to educate children about the dangers of drugs. Pendle MP Gordon Prentice will show the poem, written by 32-year-old Jason Smitheran, to Home Secretary David Blunkett

  • Tributes to bike death teacher

    TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular teacher who died after being hit by a car as he cycled to his home in Radcliffe. David Jonathan Kerslake, aged 44, a father-of-one, was head of science at Sharples School, Bolton, where staff described him as an "excellent

  • Man took overdose 'to ease headaches'

    A COLNE man is believed to have died from overdosing on prescribed pain killers after suffering bad headaches. Mohammed Jamil, known as Paul Williams, of Norway House, in Red Lane, had been taking medication for pancreatitis, an inquest heard. But the

  • Glee Club six pass test with flying colours

    SIX men escape their daily toil in the pit by getting together at night to sing. This simple idea is the basis for what is a guaranteed night to remember. The Glee Club is a heartwarming, poignant and hugely enjoyable production that deservedly received

  • Police warning to rowdy mums gang

    A GANG of mums has been warned by police to stop terrorising people or face arrest. Police revealed the warning - issued to a group of women living in the Spring Street area of Spring Hill, Accrington - after complaints were raised about anti-social behaviour

  • Clean-up call over rundown play area

    A COMMUNITY leader says his local park is in such a bad state that if the council do not clean it up, locals may be forced to do the work themselves. The park, off Fielding Lane, Great Harwood, has children's play equipment and a football pitch. But residents

  • Raiders swoop on hanging baskets

    HANGING baskets are being stolen from Hyndburn streets in an unusual new criminal racket. Police believe scores have been taken by crooks who are looking to sell them on. And officers have joined councillors in attacking the thieves, claiming they are

  • £1m multimedia centre switches on for business

    A £1 MILLION multimedia centre, designed to give Bury companies the edge in using digital technologies, has opened its doors. Backed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the centre is located in the heart of Bury at Business Solutions, Link

  • DOBSON: The game still misses gentleman Keith

    SIX years to the day, 16 June 1998, Blackburn Rovers and Burnley Football Clubs lost one of their favourite sons. Keith Newton died of lung cancer at 56 years of age and in a moving ceremony, representatives of the footballing world joined friends and

  • Padiham's Siddique out to rewrite record books

    RUN-HUNGRY Padiham professional Kashif Siddique has set his sights on re-writing the Veka Ribblesdale League record books after lighting up the Arbories with his explosive strokeplay. The 22-year-old Pakistani has already made his mark by posting the

  • Mullen in Darwen hot seat

    DARWEN have appointed former player Steve Mullen as their new manager. Chairman Kath Marah said: "The calibre of the applicants for the job was extremely high, and we have confidence in Steve's ability to take the club forward." Mullen said: "I want to

  • Cotterill confident

    STEVE Cotterill is urging Burnley fans not to panic as he continues to close in on his transfer targets. The new Clarets chief shares the frustrations of supporters eagerly awaiting a flood of new faces at Turf Moor. Cotterill has already identified several

  • Indecency case delay

    A 44-YEAR-OLD Darwen man charged with four counts of gross indecency against a child under 16 had his case adjourned. Brian McAuley, of Heys Lane, appeared at Burton Magistrates Court yesterday. The incidents were said to have taken place in Uttoxeter

  • Worlds apart

    PERFORMERS from across the globe will take to the stage at Darwen Library Theatre on Saturday in a performance of dance, story and song from countries as diverse as Iraq, Iran, The Congo and Ethiopia. The event, which will entertain the crowd from 7.30pm

  • Ex-agent Sigrid's new battle

    A PENSIONER who used to be an undercover agent has waged war on Blackburn with Darwen Council over its recycling scheme. Sigrid Green, 83, of Richmond Terrace, Darwen said there was no way she could be expected to use her recycling box for bottles and

  • Plans for festive event will involve everyone

    BACUP Consortium is already planning its festive celebrations by organising a Bacup Victorian Christmas Fair. The event aims to expand on last year's occasion by involving the whole community. An events management team has been formed involving representatives

  • Police pounding beat for hospice

    INTREPID police officers are putting their best foot forward in an attempt to run a gruelling 22 miles to raise money for charity. The squad hopes to raise cash for Rossendale Hospice after PC Martin Gallagher's father died after suffering with cancer

  • Policemen jailed for sick pay fiddle

    A BACUP policeman who was one of two officers who went off sick and raked in over £80,000 moonlighting as travelling businessmen was today behind bars. Sgt Geoffrey Roberts and PC Howard Jones, both 46, deliberately prolonged the time they took off work

  • Motorist in court denies death driving

    A 22-YEAR-OLD Leigh motorist accused of causing the death of a pedestrian by dangerous driving appeared at Liverpool Crown Court. Adam Isherwood, of Westminster Drive, Leigh, pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Brian Kedward by driving an L-registered

  • MP steps up campaign to stop science service sale

    CHORLEY MP Lindsay Hoyle has renewed his campaign to stop the Forensic Science Service being sold off the private sector. He tackled Home Office Minister Caroline Flint on the issue this week. One of the service's laboratories is situated in Chorley and

  • MPs press Hoon over jets order

    DEFENCE Secretary Geoff Hoon was today being told to speed up the order for the next group of Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The all party aerospace group of MPs, led by South Ribble MP David Borrow, was meeting the Mr Hoon to discuss the multi-billion pound

  • Stanley eye Aussie star

    ACCRINGTON Stanley are hoping to pull off an audacious swoop for Australian international goalkeeper Jason Petkovic. The 31-year-old Perth Glory stopper is one of the stars of the Australian National Soccer League, which was disbanded at the end of last

  • Lions taught valuable lesson

    LONDON SKOLARS...28 LIONS...26: LIONS travelled down to the capital on Sunday for the tough National League Two test against the Skolars and came back pointless, as the home side snatched victory in the dying minutes of the match. Coach Paul Kidd was