BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes fears Benni McCarthy's form could suffer if he accepts an invitation to come out of international retirement. South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira wants the in-form striker to end his boycott of the national team, and
MARK Hughes reckons David Dunn is close to rediscovering the form that made him one of the Premiership's brightest young stars during his first spell with Blackburn Rovers. The 27-year-old has taken time to find his feet again after sealing a dream return
ADE Akinbiyi's first league goal since re-signing for Burnley earned the Clarets a point at home to Crystal Palace. The 32-year-old, who returned to Turf Moor in a £750,000 move from Sheffield United in January, headed in a first-half equaliser after
YOUTH groups in Bacup have received a £500 boost from local police. Trinity Baptist Church in Market Street began a detached youth work project last March. The team went onto the Pennine estate to engage with the local youngsters, and talk about issues
Protesters fighting two proposed wind farms have joined forces with other campaigners to put up a united front against the schemes. Coronation Power, a London-based developer of wind energy schemes, submitted plans last month for three wind farms at
TWO men have become the first in the county to be prosecuted under the Hunting Act 2005. They were arrested near a badger sett in Read with three dogs, one of which had a blood stained muzzle. But Blackburn magistrates heard that the men had been hunting
THREE pupils from a Pendle high school caught with drugs on a half-term trip have been punished and are not attending lessons. Staff at Park High School, Venables Avenue, Colne, contacted police after they found the boys with a small amount of cannabis
A DRINK-driver was caught out in the early hours because he was driving too slowly, Burnley magistrates heard. The court was told how factory worker Adeel Munir, 20, had never flouted the law before and ended up spending an "embarassing" three hours
ORGANISERS of the annual Barrowford Show are on the look out for more sponsors to make the 85th show one to remember. Pendle firms Howard Rigg Properties Ltd and Barnfield Construction have given £10,000 in sponsorship for the past two years, but the
A GRANDAD has returned from an expedition to the Arctic after raising £3,500 for research into global warming. George Bradbury, 60, of Manchester Road, Barnoldswick, said the dog sledding trip to Norway was the "most amazing thing he had ever done."
A VERY reliable fellow told me recently that one of the granite spheres in Blackburn was loose'. I would not regard one on a level area to be as dangerous as one poised on Eanam Bridge! Not for a moment would I feel apprehensive, as I'm sure the work
A FEW years ago amid a fanfare of trumpets and thunder of drums, it was announced that councillors had been provided with laptop computers. The reason given for spending a massive chunk of our community charge on this IT equipment (which, incidentally
FOR anyone to raise awareness of the evils of slavery is laudable. What is odious is the singling out of pre-18th Century African slavery as unique, and to downplay African participation in it. As with other vices, slavery has been part of the human
BOLLARDS have been put up at the end of an anti-social behaviour hotspot in a bid to deter drug addicts and prostitutes. The simple solution, put in place in Woodend Road, Reedley, has already been hailed a success in reducing problems which had been
Thieves made off with 30 Elvis musical statues in a house burglary in Burnley. Thieves broke into the house on Waterbarn Street and stole £2,700 worth of goods. They got into the house by smashing the double glazed window and door to steal property
POLICE have been brought in following a second outbreak of fighting in the past two days at a troubled school. Gill Broom, head teacher at Hameldon Community College, Burnley, confirmed the police had been to a disturbance involving pupils from her school
ADE Akinbiyi scored his first league goal since returning to Burnley in January to send the Clarets into half-time on level terms. Clinton Morrison stung Burnley on the break with a looping header over Danny Coyne, after he latched on to goalkeeper Gabor
BURNLEY admit they cannot afford to make Blackburn-style cuts in their season tickets - but insist they will remain among the lowest prices in the Championship. Rovers have slashed the price of adult season tickets by a mammoth 25 per cent for the 2007
AS FAR as long term career moves go, an invitation to join The Fall is unlikely to see you through to your old age pension. But bassist Dave Spurr wouldn't have it any other way. "I think I'm Fall member number 53 or 54," laughed Dave who joined the
A TODDLER has died in his cot despite his mother's frantic efforts to save him. Pregnant Rebecca Murray, 20, tried to resuscitate 18-month-old Casper Lee Peter Pearson as she waited for an ambulance to arrive at their home . And she has spoken of her
A DUMPED sack of builders rubble proved a costly problem for council officers despite help from the private sector. Hyndburn magistrates heard the fly-tipping was caught on a firm's CCTV system but defence solicitor Gareth Price questioned the councils
Coun Brian Walmsley has returned to his duties on Hyndburn Council following a heart attack in December. Coun Walmsley, of St Andrew's ward, Oswaldtwistle, is now fully recovered but is under strict instruction from his doctor, and his wife Joan, to
A PENDLE dairy forced to shut after bureaucrats in Brussels blacklisted its cheese may never reopen. John Wright, director of Bowland Dairies, Pasture Lane, Barrowford, was speaking after it was announced that the European Commission had dropped legal
THE BOXING community united with family and friends to pay their last respects to a well-loved boxing coach. Around 400 people travelled from miles around to attend St James' Church in Winterton Road, Darwen, for the service in memory of Trevor Thompson
I'm filling in my latest Criminal Records Bureau form with gritted teeth. Yet again I think these CRBs create the very abuse they're designed to stop. They're supposed to unearth paedophiles. Fine! That I applaud. However, in the process, they create
A BUSINESSMAN who ran against Jack Straw in the last election has set up a new party to represent the interests of Darwen. And it is believed that For Darwen could have a councillor as early as next week, with at least one councillor ready to defect
ROYAL Mail staff could strike over a sacking row at Blackburn's central delivery office. A poll of union members resulted in 70 per cent voting in favour of industrial action. Members now have 28 days to take any action. The vote was taken in support
AROUND twenty school bus services have been axed after county council chiefs said not enough children were using them. A total of 18 services in East Lancashire are being chopped just months after the authority forced up fares by 100 per cent in some
A FORMER DJ with signed photos of rock legends worth £30,000 has decided to sell his collection - but only to a fellow music lover. Mike Ormerod accumulated hundreds of records and autographs over 30 years working as a DJ in Burnley, Blackburn and
VERSATILE veteran Graham Branch admits he is daunted by his forthcoming moments in the spotlight. The popular Burnley player celebrates his testimonial this year with a match at the end of the season, where the Clarets' current players will take on a
A MULTI-MILLION pound scheme to transform two derelict mills into houses, flats and businesses moved one step closer after planning permission was granted. It is hoped the rejuvenation of the Victorian mills, beside the canal in Burnley, will boost the
TRADING Standards are investigating 18 complaints about a gym which has been closed for two months. Total Shape Ladies Health and Fitness, above a bank in King William Street, Black-burn, closed without any explanation shortly after the New Year. The
Barry Biggs, 27, from Blackburn: It's a good thing to reduce prices. Compared to everybody else, Blackburn's is much cheaper. Rovers are doing well at the moment and it's a good time to watch them with some good players. Jon Turner, 19, from Accrington
BREWERY bosses have scooted to the rescue of a woman who was left housebound by thieves. Susan Black, 37, of St David's Avenue, Feniscowles, had her disability scooter taken from near a pub while she was enjoying a drink with husband John. She left
I WISH I could have maintained a bit more dignity interviewing Jason Donovan. But his complete lack of regard for coolness and street cred was infectious and it wasn't not long into our conversation before I shared the fact that I fully expected to marry
THE owner of a piece of land in a residential area of Rishton ignored requests and then warnings from the council about the untidy state of the plot, a court was told. Hyndburn magistrates heard that the site of the former sausage skin factory near Noble
EAST Lancashire firms are said to be bucking a trend which experts fear could lead to a "world economic crash." Traders in the world's stock markets fear that the global economy could be threatened after America reported its own markets were slowing
A 37-year-old Great Harwood man who grabbed his partner by the neck during a row claimed she had "pushed his buttons". Hyndburn magistrates heard that the attack took place in front of the victim's 10-year-old son but it ended as quickly as it had begun
