IN recent years there have been more and more demands for greater accountability from local authorities. People believe they don't have enough opportunity to participate in the decision-making process and despite talk of freedom of information many maintain
MATCHSTICK kids with wide eyes and bloated football bellies engaged the attention, not for the first time, of Bob Geldof and Bono. The conversation took place a few months back, 19 years after Bob's Live Aid and the pop world's Feed the World plea. "Still
IN reply to a letter (LET, November 6) from a disappointed Army man concerning National Service. At the time of my call-up I was so naive that I'd never travelled farther than the neighbouring streets in Blackburn, let alone out of it. The RAF cured all
RE: 'Council tenants misled claim' (LET, November 9). I would like to make it clear to Hyndburn council tenants that housing transfer is still the best way to unlock the money that is needed to improve homes. Comments made in a recent article implied
MORE colliery cash is on its way to Leigh - a whopping £19 million worth. After last week's news that £5 million has been allocated to regenerate former mining areas around Leigh comes the latest windfall. Now English Partnerships has announced funding
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes has admitted he would love to sign Robbie Savage. Hughes has been strongly linked with a swoop for the fiery Birmingham star, who was an integral part of the Wales set-up during his reign as manager. But although the
ONE of Burnley's longest-serving parish priests has died, aged 78. Father Joshua Sheeky was in the priesthood in Burnley for 40 years. He died this week in Nazareth House in Blackburn. Fr Sheeky was born in Burnley in 1926 and was baptised at St Mary's
A MAN who attacked an woman 'for fun' in Burnley was today awaiting sentence. Burnley magistrates heard Usman Bacha, 27, struck his victim with a "fierce" blow in her right arm. The incident came just three months after similar unprovoked attacks on three
ROBBERS snatched a shopping bag from an 82-year-old woman. The victim was walking along Barkerhouse Road, Nelson at about 10.15am on Wednesday with her husband when she was approached from behind by a man. The robber snatched a bag from the woman, who
BARNOLDSWICK'S answer to the Full Monty are hoping to crack America by taking their charity calendars to the bright lights of Las Vegas. The Calendar Boys, who tell people to 'keep it clean' in their day job as recycling workers at Sita, bared all for
A WOMAN devoted to carrying out random acts of kindness has taken her philosophy away from East Lancashire. But before Karma Army member Angie Hulme left the area yesterday, she carried out her last act of spreading happiness in Blackburn. Angie is part
EAST Lancashire teachers have won the backing of Hyndburn MP Greg Pope for their campaign against Government plans to change their pensions schemes. In return for the opportunity to have greater choice in their retirement age, teachers are facing either
A MAN who lied about being violently robbed in a bid to claim up to £1,000 in government handouts was today slammed for wasting police time. Rikki Burke, 22, of Pilmuir Road, Longshaw, Blackburn, told detectives he had been coshed over the head by two
TWO Great Harwood men who took part in an armed robbery of a shop targeting a terrified lone female shop assistant have been jailed for a total of 10 years. Preston Crown Court was told that shop assistant Lorraine Hargreaves feared her time was up and
A MAN who turned up at the home of his former partner armed with an air rifle has been warned he faces a "substantial" prison sentence. Anthony Quinn was said to have been waving the .22 firearm about and saying something like "He's gonna get it," referring
A PRESTWICH man has been jailed for seven years for the attempted rape and false imprisonment of a student. Alex Reay (20), of Russell Street, subjected his victim to a 25-minute ordeal in a launderette in Hulme in March. He beat the 22-year-old victim
STEVE Cotterill today revealed that Nottingham Forest have offered Burnley two players in exchange for Robbie Blake. Reports coming out of Nottingham claim that Forest boss Joe Kinnear this week lodged a £300,000 bid for the Clarets skipper, who scored
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes has admitted he would love to sign Robbie Savage. Hughes has been strongly linked with a swoop for the fiery Birmingham star, who was an integral part of the Wales set-up during his reign as manager. But although the
STEVE Cotterill today revealed that Nottingham Forest have offered Burnley two players in exchange for Robbie Blake. Reports coming out of Nottingham claim that Forest boss Joe Kinnear this week lodged a £300,000 bid for the Clarets skipper, who scored
WANDERING stray Pebbles wants to walk into a new life. The handsome, one-year-old tortoiseshell is very sweet and friendly, despite her lonely life. If you have a friendly home to welcome Pebbles, who has been tested, neutered and vaccinated, call Moggies
A CLUB boss proposed to his girlfriend aboard a fire engine. It was a case of all hands to the pump as Peter Clarke, owner of Heaven and Hell, Blackburn, enlisted the help of the landlord of the Knowles Arms, Pleckgate Road, and a rented fire engine,
SCHOOLS, shops and offices across East Lancashire swapped the daily grind for a charity fun day to raise money for the 25th annual Children in Need fundraising. Activities ranged from mad hair days and fancy dress parades to the more refined tea dances
THERE were no 'pie-in-the-sky' policies for Blackburn MP Jack Straw when he visited Inter Link Foods - one of the town's big business success stories. But the Foreign Secretary certainly made an early seasonal start to Christmas as he sampled some of
THE EX-BOSS of 'body in the lake' murder suspect Robert Lund today spoke out in support of his friend -- and insisted he was sure he was innocent. Claude Quarin employed Lund, 52, in the town of Albi in Southern France for four years until earlier this
CHILDREN being bullied in Lancashire's schools are being urged to speak up as part of a campaign being launched in the county's classrooms. Lancashire County Council's Keeping TABS scheme will offer help to primary and secondary school staff, as well
BLACKBURN'S new legion of traffic wardens have been armed with digital cameras to prevent drivers claiming they've been booked unfairly. The 20-strong team have been told to get snap happy when out on the beat with the cameras, programmed to record dates
EMERGENCY repairs to a gas main at Bury Bridge will cause chaos for thousands of motorists at one of the town's busiest junctions - for at least a week. Tottington Road and Walshaw Road were being closed to northbound traffic last night, from Crostons
MANY good deeds go unrecognised so it was good to read of the assistance given to disabled pensioner James Salter (LET, November 10). The efforts of the group of youngsters to help without reward showed a genuine concern. They are a good example to young
I COME from Manchester to Blackburn every weekday, coming off at Junction 6 (from Preston direction). It is quite often queued along the hard shoulder for hundreds of yards. It is only a matter of time before an accident will occur here. On many occasions
BLACKBURN'S new legion of traffic wardens have been armed with digital cameras to prevent drivers claiming they've been booked unfairly. The 20-strong team have been told to get snap happy when out on the beat with the cameras, programmed to record dates
CHILDREN being bullied in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale schools are being urged to speak up as part of a new campaign being launched in the county's classrooms. Lancashire County Council's 'Keeping TABS' scheme will offer assistance to primary and secondary
REJUVENATED midfielder Steven Reid has hailed Paul Dickov as Blackburn Rovers' answer to Robbie Savage. The Scottish international striker's boundless energy and enthusiasm has been the catalyst for a recent revival in Rovers' fortunes. And Reid insists
CHILDREN being bullied in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale schools are being urged to speak up as part of a new campaign being launched in the county's classrooms. Lancashire County Council's 'Keeping TABS' scheme will offer assistance to primary and secondary
A SINGER who has found international fame on the opera scene is appearing at a concert tonight. Mezzo-soprano Kathleen Wilkinson will join Nelson Arion Choir for an "Evening of Opera" at Colne Municipal Hall. Kathleen lives in Reedley with her husband
A TEMPORARY collection point has been set up in Earby for residents who pay their council tax, rent, and business rates by cash. It is sited in the police station in Victoria Road while major renovations, taking several months, go ahead at the council
A VICTORIAN-themed Christmas fair will help set the festive scene in Bacup. The event, which will run throughout the town, on December 4, will start with a car boot sale at Sutton's Riverside factory. The sale starts at 10.30am at the factory in Newchurch
PLANS to scrap 'off the cuff' public speaking at council meetings in Rossendale are set to be ditched. Officials at Rossendale Borough Council wanted to introduce a new system that meant all public questions would have to be submitted in writing at least
