I WAS sorry to read that Jim Homewood was unable to hear the debates at the Labour Party Conference (Letters, October 12). I was present most of the week as a visitor and can assure Mr Homewood that there were some real debates. It wasn't all simply listening
WORKSHOPS will be run over half term to kick racism out of football thanks to extra funding at Blackburn Rovers. The Rovers education department has been awarded a £1,000 Community Chest Grant from Kick It Out, football's anti-racism campaign, and the
Radcliffe Boro 1 Witton Albion 1: A 50th minute Steve Foster equaliser saved a point for the Boro in this Unibond Premier league clash on Tuesday night. More details later
PUPILS from schools in Ramsbottom are ringing the changes to help them in their recycling mission. The youngsters are turning green to compete in the Yellow Woods Challenge -- a campaign by Yellow Pages and the Woodland Trust. To take part pupils have
YOUNGSTERS at a Rossendale school went conker bonkers to help protect the environment. Green-fingered Year 7 pupils at Haslingden High have planted dozens of conkers. And each will take responsibility for a pot until the tree seedlings can be planted
DARWEN'S oldest Conservative club premises has been put up for sale -- a year after financial difficulties forced its closure. And Whitehall ward councillor Karimeh Foster today said she hoped the sale would be good news for the community. Offers are
BURY has received a £50,000 boost to take football to all sections of the community. The Football Foundation has stumped up the money to fund a borough-wide football development officer to co-ordinate a programme of activities over the next three years
BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Tugay today angrily denied suggestions that he wants to quit the club. The former Rangers and Galatasaray star has been widely quoted in the last 24 hours as saying that he's now 'looking for new alternatives' and that 'nobody
RAMSBOTTOM United ended their run of five matches without a win at the Riverside last night. Derek Egan's men were quickly out of the blocks and took the lead after just three minutes. A stumble from Atherton Collieries captain Mark Parry was swiftly
CHORLEY are still seeking their first away point after being given a lesson in counter-punching by Colwyn Bay, who hit the Magpies three times on the break. John Hughes fielded his two new signings, Daniel Douglas-Pringle and John Borland, and both showed
COLNE recorded their second league away win of the season at Maine Road last night. The Reds took the game to the home side with a first half display of fast and accurate passing, leaving keeper Ross Baxter a spectator. Carl Haworth and James Webster
MICHAEL Hunt did a Tiger Woods when he planned his schedule at the start of the season. "Like him, I decided to pick and choose my events and see if I could rise to the challenge," he said after picking up the prestigious trophy from Mitsushiba boss Phil
BURNLEY Football Supporters Club proposed to run a weekend trip to coincide with the game at Gillingham from April 8-10, 2005 departing Burnley late Friday afternoon for an overnight stay at the Thistle Hotel, Brands Hatch. After the game, travel down
WORRIED villagers have said the imminent closure of a rural post office could leave them without vital community services. Sabden Post Office, in Whalley Road, is due to close on November 3 after the resignation of sub-postmaster David Scurrah who is
CLITHEROE people will have a say on plans for a torchlight procession to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Clitheroe Town Council wants to gauge public opinion on an event in September 2005. It is thought the procession would
EAST Lancashire Tory Nigel Evans has criticised Government measures over school buses which he says will end up with many pupils paying £400 to get to class. But a spokeswoman for Education Secretary Charles Clarke said the maximum cost of any changes
COUNCILLORS have agreed to pay for a plaque to honour one of Clitheroe's most celebrated sons. Town councillors, who met at Clitheroe town hall, agreed to pay for the plaque to commemorate Captain James King, a Clitheroe-born navigator who sailed with
PENSIONERS have accused council bosses of hitting them with roof repairs bills of thousands of pounds for work they don't want. Now Hyndburn MP Greg Pope has stepped in to try and resolve the dispute on behalf of distraught residents in Brown Birks Road
HAIL and ride taxi fares in Hyndburn are set to rise for the first time in five years following a plea from drivers. Today the borough's taxi boss claimed drivers are worth the increase in charges, set to be rubber-stamped by councillors. Hyndburn is
10 years ago SEVEN schools across Darwen were given a welcome boost from the legacy of a kind-hearted spinster. Elizabeth Bury, 90, left £60,000 to the Church of England schools in her will. Most of the cash was used to buy extra prizes to award the pupils
NURSE in East Lancashire will be the first in the UK to teach shop staff how to help women who have had breast cancer surgery find the right bra. The initiative, part of National Breast Awareness Month, aims to make workers able to meet the needs of ex-patients
IN answer to my critics -- and in particular Stewart Clough whose letter (October 8) was headed "What has Germany got to do with it?" -- let me enlighten them about some of the leading lights of the BNP. One was formerly a member of Oswald Mosley's British
IAN Upton, UKIP press officer, has done me a favour by publicising my speech at the Labour Party Conference (Letters, October 12). What is more, I stand by every word. UKIP really are a ramshackle outfit. First they lose one of their MEPs -- before he
WALKING your way to fitness has never been easier, thanks to a new series of relaxing treks across Bury parks. Organised by Bury Sports Development unit and the park rangers, the afternoon walks are designed for anybody, of any age, wanting to improve
NELSON football referee Mike Riley is helping the nation get fit as part of the BBC's Fat Nation. As a Premier League referee, Mike's television appearances have always been watched by armchair sports fans. But now he has taken part in a film showing
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has called for tough penalties for illegal gun dealers. He spoke out in the House of Commons following the shooting of 14-year-old Danielle Beccan in Nottingham and an estimate by Manchester Police that those involved in gun
A GANG of robbers armed with machetes escaped with more than £50,000 in a raid outside a Burnley store. Security guards were targeted near the Spar shop at the corner of Brunshaw Road and Brownside Road at about 2pm yesterday. Police said the guards,
CAMPAIGNERS in Padiham bidding to return a rare clock to its former glory have urged its owners to hand it over so it can be repaired. Padiham Town Council have said they are prepared to fund the restoration of the Water Clock, but only if it can be put
A BURNLEY school's decision to sign up to a books for tokens scheme run by food giant Nestle has been described by a national campaign group as "regrettable". Habergham High School is encouraging parents to collect the tokens on packets of Nestle cereal
A FORMER scrap metal worker who died following a life exposed to asbestos contracted cancer in the final weeks of his life, an inquest heard. The hearing heard how the family of Kenneth Ridge, 79, of Manchester Road, Burnley, were never told he had cancer
SICK children at Burnley Hospital received a special visitor. Mayor of Burnley Coun Margaret Lishman and her consort Anne Kelly went to see the work of the children's high dependency unit which will benefit from the mayor's charity fund this year. The
The Glenn Keeley column THE latest Premier League table makes for painful reading if you're a Blackburn Rovers fan. Third from bottom in the table with just one win from the opening nine games is a worrying situation in itself. But what concerns me more
BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Tugay today angrily denied suggestions that he wants to quit the club. The former Rangers and Galatasaray star has been widely quoted in the last 24 hours as saying that he's now 'looking for new alternatives' and that 'nobody
ROVERS Ladies came from two goals down to book their place in the semi-final of the Lancashire Cup at the expense of Blackpool Wren Rovers. Rovers went into the break with a mountain to climb after conceding two fortuitous goals, prompting boss Andy McNally
A POLICEMAN told a jury how he was indecently assaulted by his osteopath. The officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed Stephen Milward indecently touched him three times during the years he visited the Natural Therapy Clinic in Atherton
ON Saturday, October 16, I assisted Alastair Nicholson, of Education and Lifelong Learning, in an Active learning session at Blackburn Museum. The day involved encouraging young people, and adults if they wished, to draw beetles and butterflies and ask
Nature Watch, with RON FREETHY THE year 2004 will be remembered for rain and, in the last few weeks, high winds. After a spell of such weather bird-watchers should get to the coast and enjoy seeing wildlife recover. I went to Morecambe and sat for more
THE exciting-looking £9million bridge planned to carry four lanes of traffic as part of Blackburn's orbital route will be a big step forward. The idea that Blackburn is to get something designed by a firm of architects with world-wide reputation is excellent
POLICE want to question two men after a Bury father-of-four was kicked to death as he walked home from his birthday celebration. Detectives hope readers will recognise the pair from CCTV pictures taken near to the scene where 39-year-old Rob Johnston
COUNCILLOR Sharon Briggs (Letters, October 5) is mistaken in stating that the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) fixes the level of elected members' allowances. They can only make recommendations; the final decision is taken by the council which comprises
CORONATION Street character Les Battersby has been in the dock once again this week, but this time, he was on the right side of the law! Actor Bruce Jones has officially opened Greater Manchester Police Museum's latest attraction, a 109-year-old courtroom
MIDFIELD maestro Andy Procter believes he is fitter and stronger than ever before. The Accrington Stanley youngster started his first game of the season at Aldershot on Saturday - ironically the ground where he marked the Reds' first Conference game with
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman has praised his side's resolve at the back. And the Reds chief believes there could be more to come from his ever improving defence. Coleman was pleased to keep a clean sheet and earn a point from their trip to
A TERRIFIED mother is planning to install a CCTV camera outside her home after vandals cut the petrol pipe on her car three times. Deborah Aspin, 32, of Scotland Bank Terrace, Blackburn, is so worried that her car will explode while driving her children
A TRADERS' boss today spoke of his concern that a £9million bridge aimed at ending traffic congestion will not be complete for four years. Council chiefs are set to secure planning permission for the four-lane bridge, which will carry Freckleton Street
GET ready to jump on to the sofa - spiders are launching an eight-legged invasion of our homes. Creepy crawly numbers have rocketed this year due to the mild autumn, with average temperatures of 10.2C. But heat-loving arachnids are now "breaking in" to
DETERMINED athlete Philippa Armstrong has overcome her fear of seaweed to swim the English Channel. The 31-year-old former Westholme pupil developed the phobia as a young girl and is scared of anything brushing past her in the water. The talented swimmer
POLICE are visiting East Lancashire job centres in a bid to recruit women and people who are gay, lesbian or from ethnic minorities. Teams from Lancashire Constabulary will be out in force in job centres in Accrington, Bacup, Blackburn, Burnley, Darwen
JUMPIN' Jaks has lost the first round of Blackburn's battle of the nightclubs after postponing its re-launch -- and an appearance by girl group Girls Aloud has been called off. Management at the St Peter Street club, today confirmed that the chart-toppers
DARWEN'S MP Janet Anderson has backed new laws coming into force this week that will see people misusing fireworks face an £80 on the spot fine. Police can now issue Fixed Penalty Notices to people setting off fireworks at night, youngsters caught with
Radcliffe Boro 1 Witton 1: STEVE Foster's second-half equaliser saved a point for Radcliffe Boro as they extended their unbeaten run to three matches. Foster scored five minutes after the interval in Tuesday night's Unibond Premier Division clash. Witton's
POSITIVE thinking from Graham Branch last night helped extend Burnley's unbeaten league run to eight games. Clarets boss Steve Cotterill revealed he has been urging Branch to shrug off his fragile confidence and believe in his own ability. And after the
A NINE-GOAL thriller was served up at Seel Park, with Dale once again ending up with nothing from a game that they deserved at least a point from. Considering the appalling state of the pitch, both sides did well to produce such an entertaining encounter
A STUNNING solo strike from Steve McDonald in injury time saw Clitheroe gain a deserved share of the points in an entertaining encounter. Having trailed twice, the Blues showed great battling qualities, as well as a touch of class when it mattered in
AS the pension crisis bites, the Government might yet find a glimmer of hope in Burnley. Because it's unlikely many football fans in the town will live long enough to enjoy a lengthy retirement given the precarious nature of following the Clarets. One
POSITIVE thinking from Graham Branch last night helped extend Burnley's unbeaten league run to eight games. Clarets boss Steve Cotterill revealed he has been urging Branch to shrug off his fragile confidence and believe in his own ability. And after the
SHOPPERS who have been scratching their heads about a four-metre high wooden box which has been outside a Clitheroe art gallery since June are about to find out what's inside. On Friday night Tom and Agula Swoboda, artists in residence at the Undergrand
HAIL and ride taxi fares in Hyndburn are set to rise for the first time in five years following a plea from drivers. Today the borough's taxi boss claimed drivers are worth the increase in charges, set to be rubber-stamped by councillors on Wednesday.
GREAT Harwood's vicar is to become an honorary Canon of Blackburn Cathedral. The Rev Janet Heil, vicar of St Bartholomew's and priest-in-charge at St John's, was invited to take up the position by the Bishop of Blackburn. Now Ms Heil will take up her
I CONSIDER Mr Kaiserman's letter (September 14) about the BNP to be a personal insult and an insult to my intelligence. Firstly, I am not a Nazi, I am not a racist and I am also not a "mad dog". I am, however, a member of the emergency services, and find
I FEEL sorry for "Harassed of Hunstanton" (Letters, September 28) and hope he/she has made their feelings known to the environment department. Some members of our community have to put up with not only the noise pollution, but also the smell of the waste
A THOUSAND thanks to the good people of Bury for their fantastic response to our request for soft toys for our fundraising events. We received more than 500 items. Keep them coming! GWEN, chairman of Friends of Bury Samaritans.
MY thanks to the Bury Times for recently showing us a picture of some of the hard-working and dedicated men who get their hands dirty keeping our public gardens looking fantastic. OBSERVER
BRIERFIELD bridge players have promised a fight to the finish after being told their home is due for demolition. The club was told in June the house and car park it owns in Clitheroe Road would not be affected by Pendle Council's housing market renewal
PEOPLE are being given advice on how to keep warm this winter. Pendle Council is holding two open days as part of energy efficiency week to help people save money, keep warm and save energy. Pendle's new energy efficiency officer Heather Shaw said: "Bad
PEOPLE can find their roots at Nelson Library tomorrow. Lancashire Record Office is holding a roadshow to help anyone inspired by the BBC's new show 'Who Do You Think You Are?' to find out more about heir family history or where they live. The roadshow
A 51-YEAR-old Nelson nurse has appeared in court charged with murdering three patients at a hospital. Anne Grigg-Booth, is accused of murdering three women, aged 96, 75 and 67, at Airedale General Hospital, near Keighley, West Yorkshire. She is charged
Bury 1 Boston United 1: DAVE Challinor scored at both ends to leave Bury still searching for their first Football League win over Boston. The Bury captain headed his side in front after 10 minutes, only to nod the equaliser past his own goalkeeper Glyn
A PREGNANT woman lost the baby she was carrying after slipping in a corridor of the hospital where she worked. Alison McLaughlin, a speech and language therapist at Burnley General Hospital, was 29 weeks pregnant when she slipped and landed on her tummy
IT'S crunch time for primary school pupils in Burnley and Rossendale as health bosses have launched Apple Week to encourage them to eat more fruit. The aim of the week-long scheme is to get youngsters to swap junk food for a healthy option by showing
BLACKBURN Rovers today outlined the pressure they are under to enforce a no-standing policy on match days at Ewood Park. The club have come in for criticism from their own fans in recent weeks after a number of supporters were warned about standing up
Ramsbottom 3 Atherton Colls 1: MIDFIELDER Dave Conlon and boss Alan Lord were sent off as Atherton Collieries were beaten in the North West Counties League First Division. Conlon was dismissed in the 57th minute for an off-the-ball incident, with Lord
A TERRIFIED mother is planning to install a CCTV camera outside her home after vandals cut the petrol pipe on her car three times. Deborah Aspin, 32, of Scotland Bank Terrace, Blackburn, is so worried that her car will explode while driving her children
A GANG of robbers armed with machetes escaped with more than £50,000 in a raid outside a Burnley store. Security guards were targeted near the Spar shop at the corner of Brunshaw Road and Brownside Road at about 2pm yesterday. Police said the guards,
The Martin Dobson Column FOOTBALLERS wives get a raw deal. Or do they? All the acclaim, attention and hero worship surround their superstar husbands. People clamour for autographs and pictures, they make requests for personal appearances, TV, radio and
A YEAR'S work was celebrated at the annual Bury Soroptimists' Dinner at the Red Hall Restaurant in Ramsbottom. Ninety-one guests attended the 61st dinner of the local branch of the international organisation. Guests who joined the ladies included speaker
BURY has joined forces with three neighbouring councils to take advantage of specialist legal services. They have appointed Cobbetts as their preferred legal supplier in a partnership believed to be the first of its kind in the public sector. All four
READING C Taylor's letter (LET, October 16) it appears that shopping with and caring for young children is now some kind of a hardship akin to disability. Well from someone who has brought up children, one of whom was deaf, helped with grandchildren and
RE your front page of October 9 headlined 'You are the one to blame.' We have the leader of the Blackburn with Darwen Council Kate Hollern blaming the County Council for the poor standards at a doomed Blackburn High School. I would just like to remind
IN reply to A Ahmed's letter regarding Iraq. Anyone can be wise after the event. Hussain had a woman doctor 'Dr Germ', what was she doing if he was so innocent? He had the capability to make and use weapons of mass destruction. Why should America and
The title of "spinster" was once a badge of shame for many women. But times have changed and more and more women are happy to go solo, writes JENNY SCOTT. . . IN the past, the single woman has been regarded almost as a social outcast. While men have been
BLACKBURN Salvation Army Over-55s Club, Blackburn Citadel, Vicar Street, 1.45pm. Captain E Smith and Lieutenant B Wise. St Francis Players present "Anyone For Breakfast," St Francis Church Hall, Preston Old Road, 7.30pm. "Frozen Music -- Towards Abstraction
