There's no stopping MOBO Award-winning hip hop artist Sway right now and his new single Little Derek opens the next chapter in what's fast becoming the must-read book of his career. In the witty Little Derek, 23 year-old Sway, real name Derek Safo,
What's on in Lancashire on Friday, December 23. BLACKBURN Christmas Soul Party, Baroque Bar, Blackburn. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Thwaites Empire Theatre, Aqueduct Road, Ewood. Until December 31. Terry O'Toole's Painting Classes, Portfolio Arts
There will be some old scores to settle when Bamber Bridge come to Victory Park on Boxing Day morning for a key UniBond First Division match. Former Chorley players Michael Bingham, Jamie Squires, Alex Porter and Danny Kent are all likely to be facing
IT can be extremely awkward for many people to get around at this time of the year. Bad weather, drastically reduced public transport services and drivers who foolishly fail to resist the temptation to drink and drive combine to make even local journeys
I MUST express my thanks to the security staff within Blackburn shopping precinct who were so helpful on December 15, when my husband collapsed. Also, to the lady who so promptly telephoned for an ambulance. My thanks also to the paramedics. My husband
WELL done to the Rev Christine Leech. The idea of re-enacting the Vicar of Dibley scenes in the village of Huncoat is to be commended. It has been my opinion for a considerable time that if this type of humour was infiltrated in church proceedings, the
I WRITE in response to David Bunting's letter "We must all work to stamp out racism." What Mr Bunting fails to realise is that every time this government and local councils decide to ban something that is British culture then this increases racism from
A GROUND-BREAKING children's book from a Chorley author has gone on sale in Burnley. Former teacher Gill Duckworth, from Brinscall, near Chorley, says her book "Anna's New Friend" is the first to focus on special needs youngsters and provide an ideas
You've done it again! Yes you, our loyal readers, advertisers and friends out there have made our Tins and Toys Christmas Appeal another super success. The appeal closed this week, but since being launched in November it snowballed into an avalanche of
A group of 30 Chorley schoolchildren who won a fairytale trip to Denmark became TV stars when they were filmed during their visit. The 10 and 11-year-olds from St Mary's Catholic Primary won the three-night stay in Copenhagen by creating a new twist on
FESTIVE shoppers were warned today to be on the look-out for a gallery of rogues as police cautioned: "Don't let them spoil your Christmas." The group of seven - including prolific thief John Barnes -- have all been banned from shops in the town centre
THE excited faces dotted about the Riverside press room told the full story of the unfolding drama. With the final Carling Cup semi-final spot up for grabs in a tense penalty shoot-out, it's no wonder the closing chapter of the thrilling Doncaster v Arsenal
A couple who cheated death during the tsunami that struck on Boxing Day last year, are returning to Thailand to pay their respects to those who died. Peter Smith and partner, Tracey Gibbons, both 39, from Fulwood, will be in the resort of Phuket exactly
Ambitious plans for a new 'media factory' at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) have been welcomed by Coronation Street's Kelly Crabtree. Preston actress, Tupele Dorgu, who plays the knicker factory worker in the popular soap, said a new £15.3million
SHOPPERS in Burnley and Pendle have been dramatically shown how drink-driving can cause carnage. As part of their Christmas anti-drink-drive campaign, traffic police displayed a Nissan Sunny, previously involved in a smash, in St James' Street, Burnley
CATAPULTS are the latest weapon used by Burnley thugs -- just weeks after police hit out at stone-throwing yobs in the town. Youngsters are using catapults to hurl stones and even paint balls at cars and property, with reported incidents rocketing. Now
FESTIVE shoppers were warned today to be on the look-out for a gallery of rogues as police cautioned: "Don't let them spoil your Christmas." The group of seven - including prolific thief John Barnes -- have all been banned from shops in the town centre
TAXI fares in Pendle will increase by 50 per cent over the Christmas holiday. Fares for hackney cabs, which have to be hailed in the street, are set by Pendle Council and the increase will apply from 6pm on Christmas Eve and at all times on Christmas
A WOULD-BE thief caught trying to saw a mail box from a lamp post had been told it was antique and worth £150, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how hard-up Andrew Roger Leonard, 37, made so much noise in the early hours escapade police were
A drink-driver said to have shot past police on the motorway should not have been drinking alcohol at all because of a liver complaint, a court was told. New dad Alexander Fleming, 45, had not touched a drop in seven months but went out and had "a couple
A LONE woman looking after her baby was terrified as a gang of men turned up at her home at nearly midnight making threats. Burnley magistrates heard how the gang had gone to confront the woman's husband, but he wasn't there. She heard banging from the
A 74-year-old artist, who graduated from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) this year is hoping her inventive ceramics will take off. Pat Allouis was inspired to make easy-to-use plates and cups after son, Jehan, now 44, was born with brain
Chorley's loan signing Graham Tench from Conference North club Leigh RMI could be staying long term. Magpies manager Shaun Teale said: "He is out of Leigh's first-team picture at the moment, so he could be with us for some time. He is a busy little player
Blackpool 29 Carnforth 24: Blackpool started the game with all guns firing and took the lead through an unconverted try from centre Trevor Smith. After another five minutes Blackpool were back among the points. After a good three quarters move from a
Hull Ionians 25 Fylde 24: Fylde snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at Hull Ionians on Saturday. After a dismal first half performance at the end of which they found themselves deservedly 8-22 down, Fylde battled back and took the lead 24-22 with
CHORLEY boxer Michael Jennings has been forced to cancel Christmas in preparation for the second defence of his British welterweight title. The 28-year-old was hoping to put his feet up over the festive period. But there is no time for rest after he was
PUPILS from an Accrington primary school presented their favourite author with a prize at a ceremony in London after winning a national competition. Woodnook Primary School was one of only three schools out of nearly 2,000 who entered contest to become
THE parents of Accrington stabbing victim Ken Embley said Christmas will not exist for them this year -- their first without him. But his mum Marion said they were going to face the new year and the anniversary of his death, in January, fighting for justice
BENEFITS staff at Ribble Valley Council have been given a pat on the back by the Government. The latest Department for Work and Pensions report into the performance of housing and council tax departments at local authorities across the country has given
FAMILIES are turning their backs on artificial trees in favour of the real thing, according to a company boss who brings Christmas to East Lancashire homes. Chris Day, who runs the British Christmas Tree Company from his parents' garden off Clitheroe
Blackpool 29 Carnforth 24: Blackpool started the game with all guns firing and took the lead through an unconverted try from centre Trevor Smith. After another five minutes Blackpool were back among the points. After a good three quarters move from a
The Christmas card I sent out as Blackburn's MP is a proper one. It was designed by Anna Souroullas (Year 3 of Holy Souls RC Primary School), who won a competition I organised with some Blackburn schools. But it also has a proper message inside. "Best
Experienced coach, Asa Hartford, will join Simon Grayson's backroom staff this week as first team coach, Andy Welsh, takes up a new post at a top premiership club. Hartford, a former Stockport and Shrewsbury manager and long-term Manchester City coach
The Seasiders can count themselves slightly unlucky after letting bottom side Swindon off the hook at the County Ground on Saturday. Jason Wilcox and Keigan Parker rattled the woodwork in a much-improved second half. Parker has had a spell out of the
Christmas cheer is still in short supply at Bloomfield Road as the usual festive fixture pile up approaches. The Seasiders go to Port Vale on Boxing Day before welcoming Oldham Athletic to Bloomfield Road on the Wednesday - and urgently need to pick up
STEVE Cotterill has urged Burnley to bounce back from the "blow" of seeing Nathan Dyer dragged back to Southampton. The Clarets shrugged off on-loan defender Keith Lowe's recent return to Wolverhampton Wanderers with a win against Watford last weekend
SPECIAL free buses are set to run in Blackburn and Darwen to help people without cars spread festive cheer on Christmas Day. Blackburn Transport will operate a restricted service on its Track 1, Track 4 and Track 5 routes. The services are being subsidised
A ROSSENDALE man involved in distributing drugs worth £8.5million across East Lancashire and the UK has been jailed for nine years. Christopher Watson, 30, of Heys Close, Rawtenstall, was jailed after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled
WHEN ADOPTION chiefs asked an East Lancashire orphan where he wanted to live he drew a picture of York. And despite the age old rivalry between the two rose counties, Blackburn with Darwen Council now want to grant his wish. The Lancashire-born eight-year-old
SPECIAL free buses are set to run in Blackburn and Darwen to help people without cars spread festive cheer on Christmas Day. Blackburn Transport will operate a restricted service on its Track 1, Track 4 and Track 5 routes. The services are being subsidised
AN East Lancashire man who helped distribute an estimated £8.5million worth of drugs across the UK has been jailed for nine years. Christopher Watson was caught after police watched him take part in a £50,000 drugs deal in Blackburn. And they believe
Skipper Chris Lucketti is bracing himself for a festive period on the sidelines. He found himself on the bench for the first time in his Preston career on Friday night. Youl Mawene and Claude Davis made up the centre of the backline when Lucketti missed
Christmas cheer is still in short supply at Bloomfield Road as the usual festive fixture pile up approaches. The Seasiders go to Port Vale on Boxing Day before welcoming Oldham Athletic to Bloomfield Road on the Wednesday - and urgently need to pick up
Chris Hart and Ben Rusius gave Blackburn Harriers a one-two finish in the junior men's race in the third round of the Mid Lancs Cross Country League at Worden Park, Leyland. The Harriers lacked a third counter to make a team, but the under 15 girls made
Dave and Eileen Woodhead's fell races around the Haworth area of West Yorkshire continue to buck the recent trend of gently declining fields, proving that if you put on well organised races people will support them. The Stoop is a great example, with
THE long arm of the law finally caught up with a Blackburn man who was sentenced for an offence committed five years ago. Preston Crown Court was told Christopher Whiteside failed to provide a specimen of breath in August 2000 and then gave police the
The town is spiralling towards its own permanent radio station in 2006 and now there is a new logo for Chorley FM. The Citizen joined forces with Chorley FM to ask for non-professional designers to come up with a logo which will adorn all of the station's
Tragedy struck when two men died on the roads of Chorley in separate incidents this week. The first happened around 2.15pm on Thursday, December 15 when Brinscall father-of-three Allan Stringfellow, 35, died after the lorry he was driving hit a farmhouse
How the Rovers players fared in the Carling Cup win at the Riverside. FRIEDEL: Not a lot to do but was commanding and reliable 7 NEILL: Did a strong, sturdy job in reducing Boro's threat from the flanks 7 TODD: Superb reading of situations prevented Yakubu
MARK Hughes is more confident than ever that his team can carry off the Carling Cup. He led his side to the semi-final with a 1-0 victory at Middlesborough last night and even a semi-final pairing with Manchester United isn't denting the Blackburn boss's
Patients referred to consultants for treatment by their GP will be given a choice of six hospitals from the new year. Under the new scheme, which starts on January 1, patients will also be able to choose the time, date, and place of their appointment.
A 32-year-old Longridge man was jailed for six months by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to a string of offences. The court heard Nathan Redmond had a history of offending which had eventually led to an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) being
BURNLEY'S council chief wants to take the borough's housing needs to the top level after being appointed to an influential regional body. Coun Stuart Caddy says he will use his new position on the North West Regional Housing Board (NWRHB) to get a better
NEARLY 250 motorists were caught driving illegally on Burnley's road in just five days --putting people's lives at risk. Police and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) carried out a joint clampdown against tax disc cheats in the borough, nabbing
A BURNLEY company has given the gift of life to a million African villagers this Christmas. AquAid has donated £150,000 to buy 1,000 specialised pumps for people in the northern and southern Highland villages of Zimbabwe. And the company is preparing
THERE will be traffic chaos in Nelson if a main road is closed to make way for a new bus and rail interchange, councillors have warned. Transport bosses at Lancashire County Council want to shut Railway Street as part of the flagship £5million project
Hoppers were again indebted to their forwards who eventually took control over a powerful Blaydon eight while the backs discovered some of the sparkle lacking in recent games. A home win looked unlikely when, after only five minutes, powerful flanker
SHOPPERS in Burnley and Pendle have been dramatically shown how drink-driving can cause carnage. As part of their Christmas anti-drink-drive campaign, traffic police displayed a Nissan Sunny, previously involved in a smash, in St James' Street, Burnley
TAXI fares in Pendle will increase by 50 per cent over the Christmas holiday. Fares for hackney cabs, which have to be hailed in the street, are set by Pendle Council and the increase will apply from 6pm on Christmas Eve and at all times on Christmas
A DRIVER whose 10-year-old passenger was left wheelchair-bound after a crash last Christmas Eve has been jailed for 15 months. Scott Borrett, 34, of Mason Street, Colne, was also banned from driving for five years after admitting dangerous driving. Preston
Teenage soccer starlet Michael Barnes is set to enjoy a Devil of a Christmas this year. The 17-year-old from Chorley has just signed for the mighty Manchester United. Nippy winger Michael has joined the Red Devils' academy set up after being spotted by
There will be some old scores to settle when Bamber Bridge come to Victory Park on Boxing Day morning for a key UniBond First Division match. Former Chorley players Michael Bingham, Jamie Squires, Alex Porter and Danny Kent are all likely to be facing
Hoppers were again indebted to their forwards who eventually took control over a powerful Blaydon eight while the backs discovered some of the sparkle lacking in recent games. A home win looked unlikely when, after only five minutes, powerful flanker
A DOCTOR has been cleared of allegations he indecently assaulted a 17-year-old female patient. The verdict, after a three-day trial, means that Dr Tanuku Venkata Suryanarayana, 56, of Old Langho, can return to medicine. He was suspended from his duties
Hull Ionians 25 Fylde 24: Fylde snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at Hull Ionians on Saturday. After a dismal first half performance at the end of which they found themselves deservedly 8-22 down, Fylde battled back and took the lead 24-22 with
Swansea City manager Kenny Jackett has distanced himself from an audacious January swoop for Clarets striker Gifton-Noel Williams. Jackett, the youth team coach at Watford when Noel-Williams came through the ranks, had been quoted as saying Noel-Williams
STEVE Cotterill has urged Burnley to bounce back from the "blow" of seeing Nathan Dyer dragged back to Southampton. The Clarets shrugged off on-loan defender Keith Lowe's recent return to Wolverhampton Wanderers with a win against Watford last weekend
MARK Hughes is more confident than ever that his team can carry off the Carling Cup. He led his side to the semi-final with a 1-0 victory at Middlesborough last night and even a semi-final pairing with Manchester United isn't denting the Blackburn boss's
A 21-year-old Darwen man was caught behind the wheel when he was already subject to three separate driving bans. Blackburn magistrates jailed Usman Akhter for four months after hearing it was his 12th offence of driving while disqualified. Akhter, of
WHEN ADOPTION chiefs asked an East Lancashire orphan where he wanted to live he drew a picture of York. And despite the age old rivalry between the two rose counties, Blackburn with Darwen Council now want to grant his wish. The Lancashire-born eight-year-old
TWO teenage pupils have been kicked out of their school after posting obscene messages on its computer network. The Year 10 boys hacked into the internal system used by pupils and staff at Darwen Moorland before leaving the offensive remarks. Head Gareth
A SAFETY campaign has been launched in Rossendale to help save lives this Christmas. Rossendale Council has produced advice leaflets with safety tips and advice on on how to put up decorations.. Traditionally at this time of year the risk of accidents
It brings some cheers to the bleak midwinter when the Citizen (November 30) can bring tidings of success for some of the younger generation in the area who are making use of their talents. Turning the pages we read that Southlands High School has not
A pioneering project to give the homeless a roof over their heads could be set up in Preston. New company, Recycling Lives, hope to build a permanent shelter for at least 25 homeless people in Kent Street, Preston, on the site of a former warehouse. The
A 23-year-old man who did the right thing and walked away from a stormy row with his partner returned later when he was drunk and smashed a window, a court was told. Andrew Richard Haworth, of Selkirk Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to damaging a door
A THIEF assaulted a sales assistant as she escorted him back to the shop where she had seen him filling his pockets with perfume, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that Ian Crossland had escaped with one lot of scent but returned 15 minutes
COMPANIES responsible for dumping 17 drums of dangerous chemicals were today warned they were risking a £50,000 fine or five years in jail. Eight drums of hydrochloric acid and three of caustic soda were found in a lane leading to Longshoot Farm, off
A DOG which attacked a teenage girl has been spared death after a court was told how it had been rescued and nursed back to health. Blackburn magistrates heard the 17-year-old girl suffered a puncture wound in the brief attack by a Staffordshire bull
A WHALLEY man jailed for drug offences in Thailand is to return to Lancashire before the new year. Christopher Egan, who endured a Thai prison nightmare after being jailed nearly two years ago, is to be transferred from Wandsworth jail, near Heathrow,
AN 82-year-old war veteran who beat his wife for not doing the housework avoided jail after she issued a personal plea to a judge. Wilfred Handley, of Pleckgate Road, Blackburn was yesterday handed a two month suspended sentence and a nine months probation
A FAMILY have been forced to protect their pet goose from bloodthirsty callers who want to cook it for Christmas dinner. The Islam family first sent feathers flying when they recruited Hamzah as a 'guard goose' last year after their home was plagued by
Preston North End go into the festive season with fresh speculation linking David Nugent with a January departure from Deepdale. Nugent, whose season so far has been blighted by injury and illness, last scored for Preston in the November 22 game at QPR
BLACKBURN'S newest nightclub, Liquid and Envy, has opened in St Peter Street on in the former Jumpin Jaks venue following a £2million refit. The new club will feature two separate club rooms, Liquid and Envy, along with a VIP lounge. Envy will also
LOADED, the massive New Year's Eve bash taking place in East Lancashire, has secured a big-name headline act. John Fitz, currently riding on the crest of a wave with the hit I Just Can't Get Enough, also had a hand in the summer smash I Like The Way
LANCASHIRE'S biggest nightclub is back in business after getting its late licence back. The Syndicate in Blackpool closed last month after magistrates sided with police over concerns about the club. But now those concerns appear to have been resolved
Tickets have gone on sale for Ben Elton's appearance in Blackburn on January 26. Hecklers beware, you've no chance of beating him, and thanks to his quick-fire humour, he gets through twice as much material as everyone else. Ben Elton is at King
AS HOMER Simpson once heckled at The Who in concert: "No talk, no new stuff, just play the hits." And let's be honest, that pretty much sums up exactly what you want when you go to see your heroes live. The hundreds of die-hard fans crammed into King
"I can just see the headlines in the local paper," Johnny Vegas ranted, "'Audience Walks Out On Vegas.'" Like a stampede, but then it was gone midnight and Johnny was drinking coke with a twist of lemon in it, sliced with vodka. You could pretend,
THE demise of the industrialised world has never been so funny. Rob Newman and Mark Thomas's politically charged comedy stylings paint a particularly bleak picture about the state of our world. But you can't help but laugh. You wouldn't think the
