Archive

  • Hawks shoot down Jets

    Blackburn Hawks endured mixed fortunes on the resumption of their ice hockey campaign, losing to Paisley Pirates and then crushing Kingston Jets in a double header of cup action. Hawks suffered a disappointing 8-2 away defeat on Saturday in their first

  • Turbines: Accept wind of change

    RENEWABLE energy is the only way to go. Wind turbines and solar panels supply renewable, clean energy and do not pollute. I wish Angus and Julia Dootson of Edgworth success in their appeal against the narrow-minded people trying to stop them. Renewable

  • Argument does not stand scrutiny

    SINCE Mr Lynch (LET, January 7) seems to be so ready to pounce on those he feels have made mistakes in their letters, I feel it only fair that I must in turn correct what he argued in his letter recently. Although his lovely fairytale story of nasty King

  • Can you help lick the school patrol crisis?

    An appeal has been launched to lick 'lollipop' shortages and keep school pupils safe in 2006. The call comes from Lancashire County Council's school crossing patrol service who have begun the new school year with twenty-five vacancies. This means that

  • A sorry end to bunny tale

    A TV antiques expert today spoke of his sadness that the company behind the world-famous Pendelfin rabbits is to close after more than 50 years. The firm announced this week that it would cease production at its East Lancashire base in March, with the

  • Offender treated to a week in paradise

    A TEENAGE tearaway is being taken on holiday to Jamaica by care bosses just days after Prime Minister Tony Blair launched a crackdown on yobbish behaviour. The boy, who has already been taken to Disneyland Paris, is one of several being treated to the

  • Hughes: Dreams of final are still alive

    MARK Hughes insists Blackburn Rovers' Carling Cup dreams are far from over - even though his players failed to make maximum use of home advantage against Manchester United last night. Sir Alex Ferguson's Reds are now the bookies' favourites to go through

  • Jansen: Fans kept me here

    Matt Jansen last night expressed his disappointment at leaving Blackburn Rovers and admitted that without the support of the club's fans he probably would have quit the game altogether. The 28-year-old striker formally severed his ties with the club after

  • Safety fears as Bob goes

    A headteacher fears for pupils' safety if the post of a retiring lollipop man is not filled. Pam Carter, head of Cop Lane CofE Primary, in Penwortham, said no one had yet come forward to replace Robert Williams, 75, known fondly as Bob, who retires on

  • Lisa shed pounds as she braved TV grilling

    A bride-to-be will give people across the country food for thought when she appears on a popular dieting television programme. Lisa Aspden, 29, of Shalgrove Field, braved eight weeks under the watchful eye of tough-talking celebrity nutritionist, Gillian

  • Feeding frenzy as art bites back

    Live meat eating piranhas and an artificial giant mole will feature in an exhibition at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery that opens on Saturday. The Microcosmographia exhibition is the brain-child of internationally reknowned artist Mark Dion, whose

  • Looking back to Diana's visit

    Can you believe it is 25 years since the Royal Preston Hospital opened its doors to patients? Built close to the former Sharoe Green Hospital, the Royal Preston replaced the old Preston Royal Infirmary, now a housing complex in Deepdale Road. For the

  • Attacker bites off part of victim's nose

    POLICE are hunting a thug after a party-goer's nose was bitten off in a horrendous attack. The 30-year-old victim was taken to hospital covered in blood, cradling part of his nose in his hands, before surgeons were able to reattach it. He has been left

  • Waste land 'city' vision

    MULTI-MILLION-pound plans to build a city-centre-style business, retail, leisure and housing development on a disused industrial site in Accrington have been submitted to Hyndburn Council. If the proposals go ahead, Platts Lodge -- a two acre site at

  • Bird flu ban 'a disaster' for farmers

    POULTRY farmers claimed restrictions aimed at halting the spread of bird flu had been a waste of time and a financial disaster. Sales of birds were allowed for the first time at Clitheroe auction mart since the Government-backed ban was lifted. But auctioneer

  • Jack Straw column: That sudden, clammy cold to give a shiver

    You know what it's like when the rain in East Lancashire really sets in. There's nothing spectacular about the downpour - it just keeps on coming, relentlessly. And it's combined with a sudden, clammy cold that makes you shiver, even though it's well

  • More talks on future of club

    Latvian bank chief Valeri Belokon made a flying visit to the Seasiders' game with Oldham to continue takeover talks with club owner, Owen Oyston. The man behind the Baltic International bank, who has links with the likes of Neil Bush, President George

  • McCann's big target

    CLARETS' midfielder Chris McCann believes he's ready to take his career to the next level. The 18-year-old Irishman, who has been a smash hit for Steve Cotterill's side this season, recently landed a new long-term deal and celebrated that with a wonder-strike

  • Clarets 'no' to Brighton switch

    BURNLEY'S trip to Brighton at the end of the month will stay as orginally scheduled. Many Clarets fans had called for the game to be switched from January 31 back to January 28 - the date of the fourth round of the FA Cup. After both sides were knocked

  • Pedersen: I'll fire us into the final

    MORTEN Gamst Pedersen is ready to reproduce his Old Trafford heroics and fire Blackburn Rovers into the Carling Cup final. The Norwegian scored another wonder goal last night - his third against Manchester United this season - to level the first leg of

  • Sedgwick: We've got over our play-off hangover

    FA Cup goal hero Chris Sedgwick believes North End are firing on all cylinders once again after finally getting over their play-off hangover. North End return to league action this weekend, sitting just inside the top six and with a fourth round FA Cup

  • Assault victim knocked out in street

    A DARWEN man who assaulted another man and left him unconscious has been jailed for a year. Mazer Alshmery, 29, of Crosshill Road, was found guilty by a jury of assaulting Saleh Farhan causing him actual bodily harm. It was alleged that Alshmery had gone

  • Robbers target elderly woman

    AN elderly woman was threatened with violence in her home by two men who stole cash. The woman, of Blackburn Road, Edgworth, was robbed on Tuesday January 3. Police have only just released details of the incident -- despite officers saying they needed

  • Borough ban on blade soccer boots

    SCHOOLBOY footballers have been banned from wearing bladed boots amid concerns that they have the potential to injure opponents. Blackburn with Darwen Council has told all schools that the boots should not be allowed, and that young soccer players should

  • Walk-out plan by civil servants

    Thousands of Fylde civil servants are set for a two-day walk out later this month as one of the Fylde's biggest employers faces strike action. Nationally, members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU) at the Department for Work and Pensions

  • Goodbye to Blackpool landmark

    It has been a local landmark for more than two decades - but Blackpool's Vulcan Bomber was due to be in pieces by the end of Thursday. The bomber's owner, Brian Bateson said a deal had been concluded with Cheshire firm, Sandbach Car and Commercial Dismantlers

  • New partners against abuse

    Council, police and health officials have joined forces in the fight to stamp out the growing problem of domestic abuse in Blackpool. More than 100 representatives from Blackpool Council, Lancashire Constabulary, the Crown Prosecution Service and Blackpool

  • Former glory for park

    A Blackpool park's revamp got a Lotto extra help as the mayor launched a multi-million pound facelift. Cllr Philip Dunne braved chilly sunshine to cut turf in Stanley Park's Italian Gardens, officially marking the start of a two and half year, £5 million

  • Second hunt on for missing teenager

    Detectives are again searching for runaway Fylde schoolgirl, Maxine Bindi, just three months after she sparked a nationwide missing persons hunt. The 13-year-old has not been seen since vanishing from her family home on Lindel Road, Fleetwood, at around

  • You are a lifeline to us

    Here's a New Year thank-you for the attention you have given our work and activities in the past year. Everyone is very helpful when we contact the Citizen, from reception to the editor. The local press is a lifeline for voluntary organisations and we

  • Sand fight goes on

    Regarding the planning application No 09/05/0018 sand and gravel excavation and infilling at Sandons Farm, Adlington. The SAFE (Save Adlington From Excavation) group would like to thank everyone for their continuing support against this devastating application

  • Close of play?

    Leyland Motors Social and Athletic Club could be forced to sell off its historic club house building to help rescue the club which is laden with debts of more than £100,000. Chairman David Braithwaite said an offer to buy the freehold of the site, off

  • Eir celebration to remember

    EID celebrations were more memorable for one Blackburn resident as his nephew travelled more than 4,000 miles from Mombasa, Kenya. Anvar Ali Sumra, 56, visiting his uncle, Abdul Reham Sumra, 73, who has lived in Blackburn for 30 years, said that he was

  • Davies: More recruits on the way

    Boss Billy Davies has indicated that Simon Whaley signed from Bury for £250,000 won't be Preston North End's last transfer window signing. But he has ruled out a move for Coventry striker Gary McSheffrey, claiming that the Sky Blues would be too expensive

  • History in danger

    Plans to close the Fylde coast's only museum in a bid to save cash have been branded as "astonishing" by tourism leaders. Lancashire County Council (LCC) finance directors have proposed closing Fleetwood Museum, which attracted a record 15,000 visitors

  • Rewarding bad behaviour

    NO one would envy any child who has had to spend long periods in local authority care. Regardless of the dedication and hard work of staff, life in a children's home can never be a substitute for the security of a loving family. And there is a particular

  • Dirty wards not fault of cleaners

    I WRITE in response to the story (LET, December 23) headlined 'Dirty, dirty, dirty.' I agree the hospitals mentioned are dirty and need to be a lot cleaner. I work at one of the hospitals mentioned. The trust will not recruit any staff to replace those

  • Shock death of biking Santa

    A motorcyclist died after his bike hit signs at the side of the road in Chorley last Thursday night. David Spiby, 51, of Preston Road, Whittle-le-Woods, died at the scene, at the junction of Park Road and Corporation Street. Police said there were no

  • Sendoff goes with a swing

    A golf club steward signed off in style when he retired after two decades of managing the '19th hole'. David Howarth finished work at Chorley Golf Club last week 20 years to the day after he teed off in the job. The 64-year-old celebrated with a party

  • Weekend burials for Muslims

    Weekend burials will take place at Chorley cemetery following the opening of a section for the Muslim community. The service will be offered as it is Muslim custom to bury their dead before sundown on the day after death. The extension to the cemetery

  • Debate rumbles on: 'beware' or 'be aware'

    Renewed calls have been made to reinstate Chorley's historic motto to its original 'Beware' The motto was controversially changed in 1988 to 'Be Aware' because it was felt the original was unwelcoming. The calls coincide with the appointment of Chorley's

  • Collections may be bogus

    A charity has warned that bogus clothes collectors are targeting donations intended for a children's hospital. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSHCC) is asking people to be vigilant about charity clothing collections following reports

  • 3,500 miles to give blood

    A Chorley woman has had to fly three-and-a-half thousand miles for a simple blood test which could save her sister's life. Julie Turner, 44, jetted out on her mercy mission on Sunday after slamming doctors who refused to send her blood sample to Lanzarote

  • Match report: Blackburn Rovers 1 Manchester United 1

    WHO needs Wayne Rooney when you've got the irrepressible Morten Gamst Pedersen? The twinkle-toed Norwegian, who grew up supporting Manchester United, once again came up with the goods last night by scoring the goal that gave Blackburn Rovers' Carling

  • Farewell to May, pioneer rambler

    An early pioneer of Preston Ramblers died on Monday, aged 96. May Hobbs started rambling at the age of 15, in 1924, and one of her first walks was around Brock Bottoms, north of Preston. In 1930 she joined the Preston Ramblers Club (PRC), then The Ramblers

  • Cycle bid to help vandal-hit charity

    A man whose wife was cared for by a local blind charity has launched a fundraising effort to pay for repairs to the organisation's minibuses which were vandalised. Mick Coleman, 43, of Ampleforth Drive, Lostock Hall, will do a 40-mile tandem bike ride

  • Park life for homeless trio

    Living under canvas has become a way of life for three homeless men who have been sleeping in a tent in Avenham Park since before Christmas. They have spent nearly a month camping out in city centre parks after finding themselves homeless for a variety

  • 'Crash' cyclist fighting for life

    A RISHTON cyclist was left fighting for his life after sustaining severe head injuries on his silver mountain bike. Eric Clarke, 54, of Livesey Street, Rishton, was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital after the accident happened outside the Mercedes garage

  • The fall and fall of tragic alcoholic

    AN ALCOHOLIC has died following a drinking spree -- just days after she was given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order to curb her drunken antics. Marina O'Connor, 39, of George Street, Accrington, died on New Year's Eve after a long battle with alcohol. Today

  • In a stew over butcher's plan

    A BUTCHER has caused a row among Clitheroe's market traders after he asked permission to prepare meat on non-market days. Stuart Gradwell, who owns Gradwell Quality Butchers, applied to Ribble Valley Council for permission to use his market cabin to prepare

  • McCann's big target

    CLARETS' midfielder Chris McCann believes he's ready to take his career to the next level. The 18-year-old Irishman, who has been a smash hit for Steve Cotterill's side this season, recently landed a new long-term deal and celebrated that with a wonder-strike

  • Pressure is now on for tram cash

    Work could start by the end of this year on reviving Blackpool's tram network. Just one major hurdle remains in the battle to win £66 million in government funding for the ailing tram system, which could be closed within years without major investment

  • Guide dogs leading the blind into danger

    BLIND people today said mini roundabouts were putting their lives at risk - because guide dogs think they are safe places to wait! Joyce Ferguson, from Blackburn and District Blind Society, spoke as Guide Dogs for the Blind revealed it is lobbying nationally

  • Borough ban on blade soccer boots

    SCHOOLBOY footballers have been banned from wearing bladed boots amid concerns that they have the potential to injure opponents. Blackburn with Darwen Council has told all schools that the boots should not be allowed, and that young soccer players should

  • Offender treated to a week in paradise

    A TEENAGE tearaway is being taken on holiday to Jamaica by care bosses just days after Prime Minister Tony Blair launched a crackdown on yobbish behaviour. The boy, who has already been taken to Disneyland Paris, is one of several being treated to the

  • Sedgwick: We've got over our play-off hangover

    FA Cup goal hero Chris Sedgwick believes North End are firing on all cylinders once again after finally getting over their play-off hangover. North End return to league action this weekend, sitting just inside the top six and with a fourth round FA Cup

  • Skipper wins kicker of the month

    Fylde skipper Mike Scott is the National Clubs' Association National Three (North) kicker of the month for December, the second successive month he's picked up the award. The Fylde fly-half is one of the best goal kickers in national rugby with a success

  • Pedersen: I'll fire us into the final

    MORTEN Gamst Pedersen is ready to reproduce his Old Trafford heroics and fire Blackburn Rovers into the Carling Cup final. The Norwegian scored another wonder goal last night - his third against Manchester United this season - to level the first leg of

  • Committed to helping others

    Community leaders in South Ribble have paid tribute to a former mayor who died on Sunday. Betty Greenland died just weeks after the death of her husband Arthur who passed away on Christmas Day. Born in Farington, Mrs Greenland was educated at Balshaws

  • Nature reserve vision for Ribble

    A giant nature reserve could be created by the River Ribble at Brockholes. The Lancashire Wildlife Trust has applied for £2.5m of funding to covert the 250 acre site, near the Tickled Trout Hotel off junction 31 of the M6, into a prime visitor attraction

  • Injury worry to Magpies skipper

    Magpies skipper Jamie Vermiglio is battling to regain fitness in time for Chorley's trip to meet UniBond League new boys Fleetwood Town on Saturday. Vermiglio picked up a hamstring injury in the 2-1 win over Bishop Auckland at the weekend and had to go

  • Match report: Fylde 12 Preston Grasshoppers 3

    This is a tale of redemption. Fylde's heavy defeat at Lightfoot Green in September - was hard to take for everyone associated with the Woodlands club. This excellent Fylde performance was, in its own way, as dominating as 'Hoppers' had been on their own

  • Match report: Blackpool 1 Oldham Athletic 0

    The Seasiders ended Oldham's nine match winning streak with a gutsy performance and a fine goal from young winger, Lewis Gobern. The teenager, on-loan from Wolves, struck three minutes after half time with a 20-yard effort at the end of a jinking run,

  • John Turns on the style

    Burnley Youth 2 Fulham Youth 1: Burnley sealed their place in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday evening following an impressive win over Premiership Academy side Fulham at Turf Moor. With goals from Jay Rodriguez and Rob Turner, the Clarets

  • Family joy as animal lover finds stolen pet

    A COUPLE who feared their dog would go blind after she was stolen without her medication have found their pet - thanks to a Good Samaritan. And owners Vince and Lisa Gregg said that without the help of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, they may never

  • Carol's driven to save old garage

    A Blackpool woman has launched a bid to save one of the few Art Deco buildings in the town. Retired nurse Carol Carr is urging locals to step in and save the graceful curves of the 1930s Belle Vue garage on Whitegate Drive from demolition. And she's also

  • 'Excellent' college's £5m boost

    A COLLEGE praised as "outstanding" by inspectors is undergoing a £5.3million makeover to ensure its facilities match its academic excellence. Officials from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) used the words outstanding and excellent more than

  • Leave me in prison, says addict

    A CAREER criminal asked a judge to keep him locked up in a bid to break his £100 a day heroin habit. A court heard how Daniel Cooban, 23, an addict since the age of 18, had been on remand in prison and felt that was the best place for him to tackle

  • Going green scoops pupils a silver award

    STUDENTS at a Rossendale school have gone green and picked up a coveted environmental award. Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School has been awarded an Eco-Schools Silver Award for its environmental work. Staff and sixth form students have worked hard

  • Snacks outlet can carry on serving

    A NELSON sandwich bar will continue to operate, despite concerns about the possibility it could turn into a takeaway. Councillors have given permission for Janet Licastri and her husband to change the use of an office in Leeds Road into a sandwich bar

  • Go-ahead for indoor play area plan

    A BARROWFORD couple have been given the green light for a scheme to create an indoor adventure play area. Mark and Nicola Nuttall, of Park Street, were given planning permission for the project in Turner Road, Nelson, after councillors conceded that

  • Park to lock out ‘boy racers’

    BOY racers are to be locked out of a Barnoldswick park, police have revealed. People living around Letcliffe Park have been complaining about joy riders driving cars, motorbikes and quad bikes across the grass, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage

  • School site is ‘threat to park’

    A CAMPAIGN group has written to Lancashire county council objecting to the site of one of the flagship schools earmarked for Burnley as part of a huge £250 million overhaul of education. Towneley for the People has sent a letter to planning bosses setting

  • ‘Drug dealing’ flats finally get the axe

    A BLOCK of rundown flats and shops in Burnley which have been a magnet for drug dealing and arsonists is finally set to be demolished. Engineers are due to visit the parade of shops in Calderbrook Avenue, off Manchester Road, this week to prepare for

  • Car firm bucks national trend

    Motorpoint, the UK car supermarket group, has announced a five per cent increase in sales across its four locations in the last year. The news comes at a time when the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says the number of new cars sold

  • Plans to restore historic buildings approved

    A MOVE to restore Padiham's historic buildings to their former glory came a step closer last night after councillors gave proposals the green light. Burnley Council will now apply for £300,000 of funding from conservation body English Heritage to repair

  • ‘Mis-spent youth’ leads to victory

    BURNLEY-born MP Shahid Malik has revealed how sneaking out of his bedroom window to play snooker when he should have been revising for his school exams helped him win a major Parliamentary prize. The Dewsbury Labour backbencher won the Annie's Bar Parliamentary

  • Debt man lied about burglary

    A MAN in debt has been fined for lying to police wrongly claiming his Burnley home had been burgled. And police today warned they would prosecute people caught making bogus claims. The man was slapped with a £80 fixed penalty notice for wasting police

  • Trophy tribute to tragic Lee, aged 23

    A "POPULAR and dedicated" engineer who died from a sudden illness, aged just 23, has had a special trophy named in his memory. Lee Gaughan, an award-winning apprentice and design technician at Baxi Potterton, Padiham, died last June from bronchial pneumonia

  • Staff’s sword raid terror at off-licence

    TWO raiders, one armed with a samurai sword, held up terrified staff at a Rossendale convenience store. The men burst into the Late Shop, Thorneylea, Whitworth at 10.30pm. The robbers, one brandishing the weapon, threatened staff and demanded cash from

  • War over library closure plans

    A FORMER librarian who was honoured by the Queen for her work has called on people in East Lancashire to fight plans to close five libraries. Shirley Ellis, 62, of Park Lane, Brierfield, was awarded the MBE in last year's Queen's Birthday Honour's list

  • Fans call for Brighton match switch

    DISGRUNTLED Burnley fans are urging the club to put the fans first and switch the away trip to Brighton to give the travelling support an easier journey. Burnley are due to play Brighton on Tuesday, January 31 but with both sides being knocked out of

  • We'll show our critics

    MORTEN Gamst Pedersen today insisted Blackburn Rovers are ready to repair their damaged reputation by heaping further misery on Manchester United. Tonight's Carling Cup semi-final first leg with the Reds will be beamed live to the nation and Pedersen

  • Karb can’t wait to show his worth

    DANNY Karbassiyoon says he's itching to show the Burnley fans what he can do after a nightmare start to his Turf Moor career. The boy from Roanoke in Virginia arrived at Turf Moor in the summer from Arsenal but a mystery pelvic injury wrecked his pre-season

  • Robbie out for revenge

    ROBBIE Savage today vowed to gain his revenge on the club that broke his heart as a teenager by guiding Blackburn Rovers into the final of the Carling Cup. Mark Hughes' tough-tackling midfielder grew up dreaming of a career with Manchester United, where

  • Pedersen looks for repeat

    MORTEN Gamst Pedersen is aiming to gun down Manchester United for the second time this season when he lines up against his childhood heroes tonight. The Norwegian international, who grew up supporting the Reds, was Blackburn's goalscoring hero when he

  • Sparky’s a winner come what May

    FEW people were more surprised than David May when Mark Hughes made the move into management. The former Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United defender says Hughes didn't reveal the managerial characteristics of counterparts such as Steve Bruce and

  • Davis: ‘I’m chuffed to bits’ with promotion

    BURNLEY stalwart Steve Davis has revealed his delight after being appointed as the club's new first team coach. The 37-year-old, who made over 350 appearances in three spells as a player at Turf Moor, has replaced Mark Yates, who left to become the new

  • Tamworth 1 Accrington Stanley 2

    POINTS in the bag are preferable to games in hand for most football managers. So Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman will have been pleased to transform one of their two extra fixtures on chasers Exeter into three precious points and increase the gap

  • Blaze family thank locals

    A FAMILY who lost everything in a house fire have thanked their local community for the "over-whelming" support they have received since the blaze. Debbie O'Connor and her three children were left homeless after fire gutted their house in New Lane, Oswaldtwistle

  • Town hall ordered to cut budgets by 10pc

    EVERY manager at an East Lancashire council has been ordered to cut their budget by 10per cent in a bid to minimise council tax increases. And Blackburn with Darwen Council's Labour leadership has revealed particular departments will come under scrutiny

  • TV review: Soapstar Superstar, ITV1

    NOW I'm not easily shocked but the sight of six minor soap stars belting out flat notes and writhing round the stage like Beyonce made me want to hide behind the sofa. I'd managed to avoid Soapstar Superstar until last night, but these reality TV programmes

  • Ben;s American folk dream

    A FOLK musician from Darwen hopes to capture the hearts of North Americans when he tours the USA and Canada next year. Ben Walker, 39, of Cypress Street, also hopes his plans for 2007 will help him achieve a successful solo career. Ben, a father of-two

  • Quality pub bid for town centre

    A FORMER supermarket may be transformed into an £800,000 upmarket pub, creating around 30 new jobs. The former Somerfield store in Church Street, Darwen, has stood empty on a prime town centre site for several months. Now Marlow-based Barracuda Group

  • ‘Attack’ at taxi office

    A WOMAN sustained broken ribs and a dislocated elbow in an assault at an Accrington town centre taxi office. The 53-year-old victim was said to be with her son in the Kenyon Street office when she was approached from behind by three males who punched

  • £500 of ‘heroin’ seized

    POLICE have seized £500-worth of what they believe to be heroin following a raid at a house in Accrington. They searched the property, in Bold Street, on Monday. Three people were arrested during the raid. But, after being interviewed, all three were

  • Vicar’s perception has yet to evolve

    THANKS to Reverend Kevin Logan for informing me about his book Responding to the Challenges of Evolution.' In return I'd like to suggest a couple of titles he may like to consider for future works in a similar vein... how about A Cheese Lover's Guide

  • Make decorations better this year

    WELL done to the staff at Spex Opticians of Church Street, Accrington for scooping first place in the best-dressed window competition, also congratulations to the runners-up who also produced spectacular displays. At the same time I have often thought

  • Christmas lights were superb

    AS a local councillor I have been impressed by the many displays of colourful Christmas decorations at the front of properties throughout the Ribble Valley and indeed Lancashire. As I have been going round the area, many senior citizens and families

  • Parking charges are sheer greed

    WELL done Blackburn. I live between Accrington and Blackburn and alternate my shopping but I've decided to keep to Accrington because they are more welcoming with their free parking. Blackburn Council is just greedy is it trying to drive people away

  • Town centre parking should be free

    IN response to Blackburn Council's decision to increase parking charges by 28 per cent. I would like to give a new definition on the word extravagance; that being to actually pay anything at all to park in this third rate, dirty, badly planned, architecturally

  • Jail for rogue accountant

    A ROGUE accountant who put a family firm's future in jeopardy after helping himself to more than £62,000 was today starting a 27-month jail term. And the owner of the company has revealed how he went without pay for a year to stop the business collapsing

  • ‘He was our life and soul'

    THE grieving parents of a 22-year-old who died after his speeding car veered out of control today said the family had lost its "life and soul." Matthew Hannon from Blackburn was killed after his Renault Clio clipped a traffic island as he attempted to

  • Bogus charity worker steals £200

    AN OSWALDTWISTLE pensioner has had £200 stolen from her house by a man claiming to be collecting for charity. The man knocked on the door of her home in the White Ash Lane area at around 11.20am on Saturday and asked the 65-year-old woman for a donation

  • 45 jobs lost as firm closes

    A GLASS factory has axed 45 jobs after administrators failed to find a buyer for the company. The administrators are now in the process of winding up Polar Glass, based on Junction Seven Business Park, Clayton-le-Moors, after deciding it could not be

  • Cake firm shares to hit new high

    FINANCIAL analysts are tipping shares in Blackburn-based cake maker Inter Link Foods to reach an all-time high of £8 over the coming year. Analysts at Brewin Dolphin Securities (BDS) kept their buy recommendation for shares in Inter Link after the company

  • Pedestrian’s head injured as car hit him

    A 25-YEAR-old man was airlifted to hospital after he stepped into the path of a car in Clitheroe. Police say the man, who lives in the Clitheroe area but is originally from Turkey, was attempting to cross Whalley Road, near the junction with Turner Street

  • Vicar conned by man he helped

    A CLERGYMAN conned out of almost £1,000 by a thief he had previously forgiven for burgling his vicarage today insisted he would help him again. But the Rev Kevin Logan admitted that he got "too deeply" involved with Edward Collins, who was jailed for

  • Singer William, 6, is psalm-thing special

    A SIX-YEAR-OLD with "outstanding" potential has become became the youngest ever choirboy in Blackburn Cathedral Choir. William Fielding, of Pleckgate Road, Blackburn made his debut in the cathedral's annual festive spectacular last month. The young

  • Police slam court leniency for ‘new’ stunts

    TEENAGERS are still putting their lives at risk by filming deadly stunts for a website two years after a schoolboy was almost killed when a prank went wrong. Today police and an MP slammed magistrates for letting off' the 17-year-old Darwen youth who