Archive

  • EVENTS in East Lancashire on Wednesday, October 13

    BURNLEY "Telling Tales" Paintings Exhibition, by Maria Hayes, Mid Pennine Gallery, Burnley, 10am-5pm. Until November 6. Shakespeare Schools Festival, Mechanics, Manchester Road, Burnley, 7pm. AN Evening of Mediumship with John arne, Burnley League, Richard

  • NATURE WATCH WITH RON FREETHY

    A winter wonderland ONE of my favourite ways to enjoy watching nature in winter is to take a ride on a ferry around Windermere. On a lovely autumn afternoon (a rarity in 2004), I watched a number of black headed gulls begging for food. The chocolate coloured

  • What can she mean?

    We all know that men are from Mars and women are from Venus -- but did you also know that those two planets have different languages? JENNY SCOTT attempts a translation IT'S one of women's most endearing and annoying traits, depending on which way you

  • It's one step forward, three steps back for Boro

    MATLOCK TOWN...3, RADCLIFFE BOROUGH...0 by Ian Hannay: THIS was definitely an afternoon to forget in the Unibond League Premier Division. From the first kick - 15 minutes late, due to Boro getting stuck in traffic - to last, the visitors were second best

  • We can vote for better education

    HOWEVER unedifying your readers might find the slanging match between the respective leaders of Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council over Queen's Park Technology College, they really do not need to work out who is actually

  • Worrying delay in smokes ban

    IT is now six months since Ireland banned smoking in public places and still there are no plans from the Government to follow suit in Britain. Latest reports of Ministers backing away from proposals to allow local authorities to ban smoking in all workplaces

  • International drugs man's 10-years term

    AN INTERNATIONAL drugs trafficker whose bid to flood East Lancashire with tens of thousands of ecstasy tablets has ended in jail. Detectives who spent 18 months bringing Paul Patrick Hendra, 35, to justice today heralded his conviction and the ten years

  • Tommo on target in comeback game

    DAVID Thompson scored on his return to action last night as Blackburn Rovers reserves beat Leeds United at Christie Park. The popular midfielder marked his first competitive run-out since August with a well-taken first half strike. And there was further

  • Todd: I'll fight for my future

    BLACKBURN Rovers' forgotten man Andy Todd is ready to prove he has a future under Mark Hughes after making his long-awaited comeback in the reserves last night. The former Bolton and Charlton defender came through a full 90 minutes unscathed as Rovers

  • Beckham has lost the plot

    Rovers hero Glenn Keeley tackles the big issues DAVID Beckham is one coke short of a Happy Meal! That's the only conclusion I can come to after that nonsense on Saturday when, he now claims, he deliberately got himself booked. I mean, what's going through

  • Birthday horror as boss watched business burn

    A DEVASTATED factory owner watched his family business go up in flames on his 53rd birthday. Steve Whatmough, owner of woodworking business, Wooton & Co Ltd, Partridge Hill, Padiham, estimates that the blaze on Monday night destroyed up to £40,000

  • Murder case nurse due to face court

    A 51-YEAR-OLD nurse from Nelson, charged with murdering three elderly patients, was due to appear in court on Tuesday. Ann Grigg-Booth, of Henry Street, was first arrested in March last year by police investigating the death of a 96-year-old woman at

  • Approval for firm's old base to become housing

    FORT Vale Engineering's works in Brunswick Street, Nelson, will be redeveloped as housing. The company is transferring its operations to the Simonstone Industrial Estate so its 207 staff are on one site. Members of Pendle Council's Nelson Area Committee

  • Architect calls for vision in revamp

    NELSON architect John Clancy has told councillors to come up with a vision for the town as he slammed plans to revamp the area by demolishing housing. Mr Clancy was speaking at a Nelson Area Committee meeting after about 70 Walverden and Clover Hill residents

  • Police op recovers 100 bonnet badges

    AROUND 100 car bonnet badges have been recovered after police arrested two youths in connection with a series of thefts. Police launched Operation Emblem after badges were reported stolen from cars in the Tarn Avenue area of Clayton-le-Moors. Cars targeted

  • MyTravel in crunch debt talks

    CRISIS-TORN MyTravel Group was today meeting its major bankers in a bid to rid itself of a £800million debt mountain. The company wants to swap its debts for new shares, leaving banks and other financial institutions firmly in the driving seat. Under

  • Performers needed for exhibition

    IF CLASSIC Yes songs like Owner of a Lonely Heart, Wondrous Stories and Roundabout are among your favourites, the fan behind an exhibition of the '70s supergroup's memorabilia needs you. David Watkinson, the number one fan of prog rock band Yes is looking

  • Debate overcouncil bid to cut its costs

    THE Haworth Art Gallery, free parking and bin collections could be next in line to be 'sold off' to ease Hyndburn Council's cash woes, it was claimed today. Tory council leader, Coun Peter Britcliffe, hit out at scaremongering rivals - and said free parking

  • Mystery explosion sparks panic

    THE fire service was flooded with calls on Wednesday after a mystery explosion sparked a major alert. A loud bang was heard as far afield as Farnworth, Bury, Chorlton, Swinton, Worsley and Eccles but the emergency services did not know what the bang was

  • Profits warning

    EAST LANCS: Trading at the Clitheroe-based conservatory manufacturer Ultraframe has failed to pick up over the past few months and the company has repeated its warning that profits will be no higher than £12million. In its end-of-year trading statement

  • Spooky challenge for sisters

    FEARLESS sisters Mandy Paul and Linda Hayhurst are boldly going where no two women have gone before - spending the night in one of Lancashire's most haunted buildings. And the women, from Chatburn and Earby, say they are excited at the prospect of spotting

  • Vernon returns to Oldham

    Despite missing out on the permanent signing of Scott Vernon, Blackpool were hoping to have the services of the Oldham striker for a further two months. The two clubs had agreed to extend the loan deal to take it up to the maximum three months but the

  • Chappy happy to be a write off

    RICHARD Chaplow has told Burnley's Championship rivals: "Keep on underestimating us!" Chaplow is now concentrating all his efforts on performing well for the Clarets, following his goalscoring exploits with the England U20s last weekend. And the Turf

  • Stocksbridge 1-0 Clitheroe

    CLITHEROE'S hard work was unlucky to be rewarded as they went down 1-0 at Stocksbridge Park Steels. The game's turning point came on 62 minutes when Russell Clarke was shown a red card for commiting a foul as the last line of defence. From the resultant

  • It's one step forward, three steps back for Boro

    MATLOCK TOWN...3, RADCLIFFE BOROUGH...0 by Ian Hannay: THIS was definitely an afternoon to forget in the Unibond League Premier Division. From the first kick - 15 minutes late, due to Boro getting stuck in traffic - to last, the visitors were second best

  • Borough knock down Bridge

    Bamber Bridge 0 Radcliffe Borough 3: RADCLIFFE gave a vastly improved performance following Saturday's disappointing display at Matlock. Paul McGuire formed a new central defensive partnership with Paul Challinor who returned from injury and this, together

  • Quiz night

    EAST Lancashire's finest brains are invited to test their knowledge next month. And at the same time they can raise money for a charity which helps break down age barriers. The general knowledge quiz evening, at the Whitehall Country Club, Darwen, on

  • A brighter future

    RESIDENTS and councillors who campaigned for better street lighting near their homes were celebrating today. Sudell ward councillor Eileen Entwistle said she was delighted that certain streets, particularly Derwent Street, would be illuminated by 2005

  • 'Disgraceful' rap for two

    TWO men behind racial attacks on two terrified teenagers have been slammed for their behaviour by a judge. Burnley Crown Court heard how self-employed gas fitter Warren Lang, 23, and jobless Mark Hayden, 28, were both of previous good character. The pair

  • Vandal-hit buildings to come down

    WORK has started to demolish empty shops on a Bacup estate. The neglected stores on Hawthorn Road have been a cause for concern among Pennine Road estate residents for some time and have been targeted by vandals. But under a scheme to revitalise the area's

  • Trio arrested in badger baiting clampdown

    THREE men have been arrested in Rossendale on suspicion of animal cruelty following a joint operation between Pennine police and the RSPCA designed to tackle suspected badger baiting. The three men, a 63-year-old from Whitworth, a 57-year-old from Harrogate

  • QLR war heroes honoured

    TWO Queen's Lancashire Regiment war heroes have been honoured with medals for their bravery during battles in Iraq. The widow of Company Sergeant Major Darren Leigh was handed the Military Cross for her husband's bravery in protecting a police station

  • Easing the pain of war

    A NEW charity was launched last night for the people of Blackburn and Darwen to help kids in war-torn countries. Children of War is the brainchild of two borough councillors and a well-known community worker. They hope every resident will donate £1 -

  • Regional assembly row hots up

    LANCASHIRE'S county council leaders have been accused of being 'power hungry dinosaurs' after they pledged to continue fighting plans for a regional assembly. The row between the 'yes' camp -- spearheaded by personalities such as TV presenter Tony Wilson

  • International drugs man's 10-years term

    AN INTERNATIONAL drugs trafficker whose bid to flood East Lancashire with tens of thousands of ecstasy tablets has ended in jail. Detectives who spent 18 months bringing Paul Patrick Hendra, 35, to justice today heralded his conviction and the ten years

  • School hit by racist fights

    POLICE were today patrolling outside an East Lancashire high school following a series of racist fights between Asian and white pupils. The tension, said by police to have been going on for two weeks, came to a head on Monday when a white girl pupil at

  • Keeper ready for chance

    STANLEY stopper Danny Alcock is gunning to make the most of his opportunity in goal. The 20-year-old Accrington Stanley goalkeeper was handed his Conference debut in Monday night's televised game at home to Hereford United after Jon Kennedy broke his

  • Court hears of five year probe after tragedy

    AN investigation carried out after a firefighter drowned in a lodge while trying to rescue a teenager found there were no national guidelines on water rescues. Richard Clarke, an inspector with the Health and Safety Initiative, told a court of his five-year

  • Drugs battle must be won

    THE fact that an international drugs gang planned to flood East Lancashire with tens of thousands of ecstasy tablets should send alarm bells through our community. Detectives who spent 18 months bringing Paul Patrick Hendra, 35, to justice today heralded

  • Council must face up to its responsibility

    IT'S a bit rich that certain Blackburn with Darwen councillors are laying the blame for Queen's Park School's problems on Lancashire County Council, who last had any responsibility for the school over six years ago. They seem happy to take sole credit

  • Slovakian man hurt in attack

    POLICE have appealed for witnesses after a Slovakian man was attacked in Barnoldswick in broad daylight. The 36-year-old was found in St James' Square at around 6.20pm on Saturday. Because of his nationality, the police's Hate Crime Unit is leading the

  • Taffy is left cold by Dragons lack of fire

    Martin Dobson talks to Leighton James THE Dragons failed to spark against England at Old Trafford - and it left one Welshman cold. Before the England v Wales match on Saturday, much was spoken of the passion the Welsh players would generate in the high

  • Murder case nurse due to face court

    A 51-YEAR-OLD nurse from Nelson, charged with murdering three elderly patients, was due to appear in court on Tuesday. Ann Grigg-Booth, of Henry Street, was first arrested in March last year by police investigating the death of a 96-year-old woman at

  • School hit by racist fights

    POLICE were today patrolling outside an East Lancashire high school following a series of racist fights between Asian and white pupils. The tension, said by police to have been going on for two weeks, came to a head on Monday when a white girl pupil at

  • Huge blaze at bedding factory

    EIGHT fire crews tackled a large blaze at a factory in Padiham on Monday night. Two crews were still at the scene in Partridge Hill, off Grove Lane, near the centre of the town, on Tuesday damping down. Firefighters were called at around 9pm and battled

  • School's sale 'a benefit'

    A BURNLEY primary school deemed surplus to requirements two years ago is being sold but council bosses are remaining tight-lipped about who wants to snap it up. Healey Wood Primary School merged with Rosewood Primary School, in Rosehill, as part of a

  • Trio arrested in badger baiting clampdown

    THREE men have been arrested in Rossendale on suspicion of animal cruelty following a joint operation between Pennine police and the RSPCA designed to tackle suspected badger baiting. The three men, a 63-year-old from Whitworth, a 57-year-old from Harrogate

  • 10 YEARS AGO

    PATIENTS at Blackburn Royal Infirmary found it was good to talk after being given the use of 10 new cordless telephones. The state-of-the-art phones were donated by the hospital's league of friends to help bed-bound patients keep in touch with relatives

  • Farm worker's agonising wait

    A FARM worker who was kicked in the shoulder by a cow is facing a two-year wait for treatment because of a hospital waiting list. Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has taken the plight of Clitheroe's Shaun Roberts to Westminster and is demanding to know why

  • Abbey Hey 1-0 Bacup Borough

    DESPITE the narrow scoreline, this was a comfortable victory for BACUP and only a host of missed chances prevented a rout. Thankfully, Ian Hughes, who had hit the woodwork in the first half, managed to find the net. The former Blackpool and Huddersfield

  • Saunders keeps pot boiling for Rams

    ANOTHER draw on their travels extended Rambottom's unbeaten run to seven games. The Rams dominated possession in the first half and carved out a number of good chances but were unable to make the breakthrough. Glossop scored against the run of play after

  • Vermiglio hits the spot for Magpies

    A GRITTY performance brought Chorley a second successive league win and clean sheet to ease their worries in the UniBond First Division basement. Revenge over high-riding Mossley, who fortuitously nicked three points in last month's first meeting, came

  • Super sub Jones is a head master

    SUPER sub Jason Jones clinched the points for Nelson in the closing stages of this hard-fought derby. Darwen will have felt hard done by having survived all that Nelson threw at them in the first half and coming back strongly after the interval, when

  • Hitchcock on board

    KEVIN Hitchcock has revealed he's relishing the challenge of becoming Blackburn Rovers' new goalkeeping coach. The former Chelsea stopper has signed a one year contract with Rovers after quitting a similar post at Watford and he replaces Roy Tunks in

  • Chappy happy to be a write off

    RICHARD Chaplow has told Burnley's Championship rivals: "Keep on underestimating us!" Chaplow is now concentrating all his efforts on performing well for the Clarets, following his goalscoring exploits with the England U20s last weekend. And the Turf

  • Todd: I'll fight for my future

    BLACKBURN Rovers' forgotten man Andy Todd is ready to prove he has a future under Mark Hughes after making his long-awaited comeback in the reserves last night. The former Bolton and Charlton defender came through a full 90 minutes unscathed as Rovers

  • Spanish delight

    PUPILS at Darwen Vale High enjoyed a Spanish summer school so much, they are coming back for weekly lessons after school. The 'Able, Gifted and Talented Summer School' with a Spanish theme was held during the summer holidays when pupils received intensive

  • Mayoral open day

    THE mayor, Coun June Forshaw, is inviting people to join her at a mayoral open day at the Asotria this Saturday. She will be acting as host to other Lancashire mayors and mayoresses, along with a group of visitors from Rossendale's twin town of Bocholt

  • School hit by racist fights

    POLICE were today patrolling outside an East Lancashire high school following a series of racist fights between Asian and white pupils. The tension, said by police to have been going on for two weeks, came to a head on Monday when a white girl pupil at

  • Shock as respected head dies aged 51

    A RESPECTED head teacher died at home last night, at the age of 51. Peter Keegan had been head at St Alban's RC Primary School, in Trinity Street, Blackburn, since 1998. He also taught at St Anne's and St Joseph's RC Primary School, in Sandy Lane, Accrington

  • Unions in school closure row claim:

    FOUR more pupils gaining top GCSE grades could have saved Blackburn's Queen's Park Technology College, unions claimed today. Officials said that if 19 pupils instead of 15 had picked up five A*-C grades this August, then the school's pass rate would have

  • Lonergan watches on as England are held

    Andy Lonergan was once again left on the bench as England U21's were held to a goalles draw in Azerbaijan. After securing a 2-0 win over Wales on Friday, thanks to goals from Milner and Bent confidence was high as the youngster travelled to Baku. Despite