A REPORT which revealed the shocking figures of underage drinking was the hot topic when JEMMA DOBSON spoke to school pupils about their experiences with alcohol. . . THE drinks industry has always denied that its sweet-flavoured alcopops are to blame
A PIZZA chef was due to stand trial for murder today at Preston Crown Court. Damien Fiocca, 18, of no fixed address is accused of murdering Andrew Rawes, 29, formerly of Preston but who used to live in Burnley Road, Blackburn. Mr Rawes was found near
IN a statement born of self-delusion Mr Gordon Ramsey says he will never make another Hell's Kitchen because the celebrities are all whingers. Truth is there won't be another Hell's Kitchen because viewers switched off in droves. D PRATT (Mr), Plantation
A 20-year-old man was robbed as he made his way home from a night out in Atherton. He was walking along Leigh Road at around 3am on Sunday when he heard some men shouting at him close to the junction with Murray Street. The victim turned round and saw
MUSLIM leaders threw open the doors to a Burnley mosque to boost better understanding of different faiths. The Building Bridges group was formed to create unity between communities after the town riots and organised the Elm Street Mosque open day to dispel
THE route to hammer out a deal to heal the Burnley Town Hall split has been tortuous. There are 24 opposition councillors to Labour's 21, no one will deal with the BNP and the Liberal Democrats, the second largest group, will not allow Labour a majority
Bury 2 Macclesfield 1 By Phil Thorp: THE bad sequence of results that blighted September was ended with aplomb thanks to a rejuvenated Jon Newby. Making his first league start since the opening day of the season, he scored one and set up Dave Nugent for
A SOCIAL club saved from the bulldozers twice last year has closed. The future of Clayton-le-Moors Sports and Social Club, Moor Street, is now in the hands of Hyndburn Council planners who are considering a planning application to turn it into a children's
A COMMUNITY was today celebrating the life of Linda Logan who lost her year-long battle with cancer on Friday. And her husband Kevin, vicar of Christ Church Accrington, today paid tribute to his beloved wife, who he describes as "a great inspiration".
NORTH Manchester Chamber has bowed out with a gala dinner in Bury just days before it becomes part of a Greater Manchester "super" chamber. And the event, held at the Elizabethan Suite, paid tribute to well-known local businessman Fred Bowen who was presented
MR Grumpy is set to frown on speeding motorists after £6,000 was spent on new high-tech equipment. But drivers who keep within the limit will see a smiling face on the new electronic displays in the Ribble Valley. Instead of being punished for speeding
THE dream of FA Cup glory ended for the Rams against a strong Southport outfit who proved to have too much class for their North West Counties opponents. Although confidence in the camp was high after a nine-match unbeaten run, it was a bridge too far
Rovers facing international headache BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes is facing a potential selection headache when he returns from international duty in 10 days' time. Hughes will hook up with his Wales squad in the next 24 hours in preparation for
STEVE Cotterill has warned the meanest defence in the Championship not to become complacent. The Burnley boss was delighted as his troops chalked up a fifth clean sheet in six away league games at the home of high-flying Reading. But Cotterill warned
THE owners of two Burnley businesses were celebrating today after their produce was voted the best in the North West. Moorhouses Brewery's Pendle Witch and Hartley's Farms Foods' home cooked ham won the award of best alcoholic drink and best cooked meat
NEW job opportunities are on the horizon in Rossendale with the completion of the second phase of Bacup's £2.8million offices complex. Units at Futures Park were officially launched by the Mayor of Rossendale, Councillor June Forshaw. They will provide
ON the phone to my friend the other day, I heard a bit of a commotion in the background. When I inquired as to what was going on, she reported that her office was in turmoil. Four out of six members of staff were taking part in Take Your Dog to Work Day
A FATHER made his ex-girlfriend's life a misery as he harassed her over access to their child. Blackburn magistrates heard that Mark Farren accosted the girl in the street, manhandled her, kicked on the door of her home and told her he would hassle her
NEW job opportunities are on the horizon in Rossendale with the completion of the second phase of Bacup's £2.8million offices complex. Units at Futures Park were officially launched by the Mayor of Rossendale, Councillor June Forshaw. They will provide
FA Cup Second qualifying round: Radcliffe Boro 3 Shildon 3 RADCLIFFE face a tough replay in the North-East on Wednesday night after coming back from 2-0 down at home to a side two divisions below them. Albany Northern League side Shildon took a shock
A BID has been launched for a second Lotto cash injection to beat vandals in one of Blackburn's oldest parks. A £3million National Lottery-funded restoration project is already under way in Corporation Park and is due for completion in 2006. Now Blackburn
A BRIDEGROOM was forced into an arranged marriage despite being in a "loving relationship" for over 10 years, a court heard. Blackburn magistrates were told that Tanveer Masood had been walking the streets since the marriage, unwilling to go to his wife
NEARLY two thirds of Lancashire's pensioners could be putting their lives at risk by using faulty electric blankets to keep warm in winter. Shock figures from Age Concern Lancashire have revealed that 65 per cent of electric blankets, checked during a
COUNCIL tax in Lancashire needs to rise by more than four times the rate of inflation if £20million of cuts are to be avoided, a shock reports revealed today. Lancashire County Council leaders -- who last year aimed to peg back future rises to around
mTHE head of the campaign to save the identity of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment believes it has taken a major stride in its march to victory. But Brigadier Geoffrey Sheldon said there is still more work to do before the Government makes its final decision
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman blasted his players after a woeful display at Farnborough Town. Coleman said after the 2-1 defeat: "If they want to play for me or this club, they will have to sharpen up." Perhaps suffering from an LDV Trophy hangover
PLAYED five, lost five. It doesn't make for pleasant reading if you're a Tigers fan. Henley became the latest team to beat Sedgley Park with a convincing 41 - 19 win on Saturday. Full report and reaction on Tuesday
A VILLAGE pub has been granted permission to stay open until the early hours on Friday and Saturday nights despite objections from nearby residents. The Waterside Bar and Restaurant in Summerseat has had its public entertainments licence renewed for a
YOUR response to our campaign to preserve the identity of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment has been quite overwhelming. In the past couple of months thousands have signed protest petitions to make crystal-clear their opposition to creating a regional regiment
A View form the Lords, with LORD GREAVES IF you've got digital you could spend all your life watching the Parliament Channel, which provides live coverage of the House of Commons and fits in recordings of the Lords at other times. You also get the Scottish
A REGISTERED sex offender changed his name after his release from jail. Blackburn magistrates heard Bryan Thomas, formerly Bryan Walsh, was put on the register for life after he was given five years in 2001 for serious sexual offences involving young
NAME and address supplied (LET, September 28), should have checked his/her facts prior to rushing into print. Blackburn with Darwen councillors did not grant permission for full nudity at the Velvet Lounge in Blackburn. This was obtained in court from
I WAS shocked and appalled at the letter written by J Eccles in which she suggests Kenneth Bigley went to Iraq purely for financial reasons. Mrs Eccles, is it too much for you to open your narrow mind to the possibility that Kenneth Bigley might be a
I AM writing in response to Coun Ron O'Keeffe's letter (LET, September 23), answering mine (LET, September 17) on the subject of free parking for Blackburn with Darwen councillors. Coun O'Keeffe considers that facts stated by me are untrue, whereas I
I READ with interest the report regarding plans by the Hurstwood Group to redevelop the former Kearns dyeing mill, into houses and apartments. Whilst I appreciate some of the concerns raised by some villagers, perhaps it would help to place some of the
POLICE have threatened to arrest older boyfriends of girls under 16 for child abduction if they allow youngsters to stay with them without informing their parents. The warning comes after a 15-year-old Blackburn girl, who had been reported missing, was
NW Counties Division One: Trafford 5 Atherton Colls 2 FORMER Stockport County youngster Phil Carratt scored twice for Trafford to condemn Collieries to their first defeat in four games. Trafford were 3-0 up by half-time, with Rod Thornley scoring with
FA Cup Second qualifying round: Atherton LR 2 Hyde 3 NEIL Tolson's last-minute winner for Hyde broke Atherton LR hearts in a gripping FA Cup tie at Crilly Park. Tom Foster's North West Counties League side almost pulled off a cup upset as they twice led
HEARD the one about the Welshman, the Scotsman and the Frenchman? Well, at Ewood Park on Saturday, Blackburn Rovers fans got a glimpse of a brave new world under Mark Hughes as the manager's bold attempt at harnessing the attacking qualities of Barry
AN FA Cup medal won by former Clarets legend Andy Lochhead was stolen in a burglary at his house. The medal dating from the FA Cup 1969 cup final was stolen in the raid from his Arkwright Street property overnight on Saturday. Mr Lochhead, a columnist
THE owners of two Burnley businesses were celebrating today after their produce was voted the best in the North West. Moorhouses Brewery's Pendle Witch and Hartley's Farms Foods' home cooked ham won the award of best alcoholic drink and best cooked meat
PUPILS at a Brierfield infant school stayed at home today after bad weather brought the roof down. The ceiling of Walter Street Primary's infant block fell in over the weekend. And the incident have left plans for a public meeting up in the air. Hundreds
A COLNE community has used photography to help capture the good and bad aspects of life in Pendle. The scheme saw 60 residents in the Waterside ward given disposable cameras to takes snaps of people, landscapes and buildings close to their hearts. Co-ordinated
10 years ago LECTURERS at Nelson and Colne College staged a strike against new contracts which demanded they work longer hours without an increase in pay. Members of union NATFHE (National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education) were
FIREFIGHTERS rescued a pony from a canal in Wharf Fold Road, Whitefield, at 6.30am on Friday. Firefighters from Whitefield and Eccles joined the horse's owners, a vet and RSPCA in trying to rescue the animal. The Water Rescue Unit from Eccles arrived
A 20-YEAR-OLD man was pushed to the ground and knocked unconscious by a robber. He was walking along Clifton Road, Prestwich, on Saturday at 11pm when he was struck from behind and knocked out. A bracelet was stolen and the man suffered bruising. The
PEOPLE who have lost loved ones can remember them in a special way at Christmas with the annual East Lancashire Hospice Light up a Life campaign, launched today. For a donation to the Hospice, a light will be dedicated on a Christmas tree in Blackburn
AS the weary voices of the press pack phoned through their after-match reports from up in the gods of the Madejski Stadium, one phrase stood out. "The way Burnley play is enough to drive anyone to drink." In which case, get some glasses and crack open
THE mother of a Darwen teenager blind since birth says his life has been changed by a computer bought for him by a local charity. David Connelly, 14, attends St Vincent's School for the Blind and Partially Sighted in Liverpool during the week, where he
FOREIGN Secretary Jack Straw has been handed a mock "school report" grading his performance by Blackburn anti-war protesters. The Blackburn MP was given a score of minus 37 out of 80 marks when was handed the report by a group called Blackburn Friendship
A 25-year-old voluntary patient at Queen's Park Hospital psychiatric unit who walked out after a row with staff was later found walking the streets armed with an array of knives, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that police were called by
A HALLOWE'EN ball ended in violence when the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School sixth-former who had organised the event hit a guest over the head with a bottle. Blackburn magistrates heard that Richard Hayes thought the other teenager, also a QEGS pupil
POLICE have threatened to arrest older boyfriends of girls under 16 for child abduction if they allow youngsters to stay with them without informing their parents. The warning comes after a 15-year-old Blackburn girl, who had been reported missing, was
A PIECE of Lancashire history which had been left to decay for 50 years has been sold for £1million. The Orangery was left to go into a dilapidated state by previous owner Lord Alvingham, grandson of brewery founder Daniel Thwaites. But the listed building
READING was never a strong point for 12-year-old Nick Donnelly. His mum Margaret knows he has always struggled formulating words and having the confidence to speak out loud. But thanks to a new way in teaching reading and writing, he has started enjoying
