WHAT started as a drunken prank ended with a man being repeatedly punched and kicked by his drinking buddy. Blackburn magistrates heard Meredith Hughes had been "chased" by the other man after taking his mobile phone and passing it to and fro with another
A 26-YEAR-OLD man shouted racist abuse at a shop security officer after he asked him to put his hood down. Blackburn magistrates heard that John Paul Shenton returned to the Netto store in Darwen a month later and this time ended up in a struggle with
A ROAD safety operation aimed at putting the brakes on speeding motorists in Blackburn has been hailed a success. The Blackburn south west neighbourhood policing team carried out road safety operations in four areas across the town, including Blackamoor
A HISTORIC cricket club is under threat after the ownership of their ground changed hands. Stacksteads Cricket Club has been playing on Waterbarn Recreation Ground for 104 years and in 1990 owners Waterbarn Baptist Church agreed that it could exclusively
A WALK organised by the North East Lancashire Ramblers group was hailed a success. Ramblers were taken to Appleby in North Yorkshire for the monthly coach ramble. Around 80 walkers from the Blackburn and Burnley areas attended the walks. There were
A HUNT has been launched for the family of a Second World War soldier ahead of a commemoration ceremony being staged for him in Holland. John Greenwood, from Darwen, died aged 19 on September 11, 1942, when his Short Stirling Mark 1 flown by 7 Squadron
FASCINATING tales from East Lancashire's past are being told in a new television documentary. Lost Treasures is an eight-part series on ITV looking at the North West's past and the spotlight over the next fortnight is going to fall on events in the east
A 'SPIN doctor' is to be employed to help Lancashire County Council improve the image of its controversial parking wardens. It comes a day after the Lancashire Telegraph revealed that a press officer had been appointed to deal exclusively with the Building
THE controversial BBC Panorama programme which documented racial tensions in Blackburn will be debated at the Cathedral next week. The debate asks whether the show, called White Fright', got it right. The programme will be re-screened, and followed by
ONE hundred jobs could be created on the site of a former Royal Ordnance factory after plans were submitted to open a major CD wholesaler. Proposals have been drawn up for national retailer Music Box to occupy part of the old munitions plant, off Roman
A 42-year-old man visiting his sister in Darwen was found to be more than twice the drink-drive limit when he was breathalysed. Blackburn magistrates heard that police also found a small amount of cannabis when they searched Andrew Lee. Lee, of Grampian
A TAXI driver was subjected to a frightening racist ordeal by a passenger who made a grab for him as he drove down the road. Mumtaz Khan was abused by Steven Ashe who also ripped off his identity badge and put an arm around his neck. A judge described
EX-CLARET Graham Branch believes Chris McCann's versatility could be a major asset in his development. But he feels the 19-year-old may benefit more from trying to secure a specific position while he is still young. Branch, who was released at the end
THE former owner of a car showroom has angered neighbours by displaying up to 14 vehicles for sale outside his home. Residents have criticised Naim Akhtar for creating the "car lot" on unadopted land at Ramsgreave Avenue, Blackburn. Mr Akhtar, 46, was
TODAY Burnley celebrates the club's 125th birthday, and what an action-packed century-and-a-quarter it has been. My memories of first arriving at the club are pretty vague now really. I'd been to Sunderland first, but developed an injury there and nothing
Passers-by in Larkhill, Blackburn, got a shock when sparks and smoke began to come up through the pavement in Trinity Street. Firefighters were called at 7.20pm on Wednesday. They cordoned off the area, and alerted the electricity board. The cause
A MOSQUE which has transformed a disused former British Legion club, held an open day to show the community how the building had been turned around. The Jamia Masjid Minhaj-Ul-Quran mosque, in Brunswick Street, Nelson, has been brought back into use
A DRUG addict completely stripped the lead flashing from a primary school roof resulting in £2,000 worth of damage. Jobless cannabis user Damion Thornton, 20, twice hit St Joseph's RC School in Stacksteads and was rumbled by DNA after leaving a pair
TWO people who made neighbours' lives hell have been given a court order to curb their noisy behaviour Pendle Council said two people in the borough have become the first in the town to be given criminal anti-social behaviour orders (CRASBOs) for noise
PENDLE Community Safety Partnership will be running the Local Area Grants Scheme again this year so that community safety projects can be set up in all parts of the borough. Money is available to help groups across Pendle set up projects which will tackle
AN over-the-limit scooter rider was caught in the early hours wearing no crash helmet, and with no lights on. Burnley magistrates heard how trainee butcher Benjamin Jones, 21, who had a previous drink-driving conviction, was unsteady on his feet and
IAN Wright makes his Turf Moor return tonight. The former Arsenal and England striker signed for the Clarets on 14 February 2000 and helped clinch automatic promotion from the Second Division on the last day of the season. Wright is the special guest
Blackburn Rovers have announced details of their pre-season programme. Mark Hughes will take his squad to Wrexham for a friendly at the Racecourse Ground on July 10 (kick-off 7.45pm), before flying out to Germany for a training camp, which will include
A TWELVE-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis has raised nearly £1,000 after walking with llamas. Natasha Harley, of Minster Crescent, Darwen, was diagnosed with the life-threatening disease when she was four and must undergo a gruelling fitness routine
FOOTBALL officials and councillors are joining forces to secure funding for the future of Accrington Stanley. Hyndburn Council is to set up a cross-party group that will work with community leaders and key figures at the club to find ways of bringing
BRAD FRIEDEL: What can I say about Brad that hasn't already been said? For me, he's the best keeper in the Premier League. Reckons he can play into his forties and I wouldn't bet against it. 8. BRETT EMERTON: He's not always been everybody's cup of tea
TWO-YEAR-OLD Arun Johnson points the way forward at the opening of Nelson's new Family Tree Centre, built to improve the health and welfare of the community. The centre will provide a range of services primarily to the Walverden and Clover Hill areas
ST Marks Church, Rossendale Road has been targeted again by fly-tippers. Bin bags and lumps of grass have been dumped at the rear of the church and windows have also been broken. If you know the culprits contact Street Scene and the police.
BURNLEY have added another pre-season friendly to their summer schedule. The Clarets will travel to Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on July 17 (kick-off 7.30pm). The three other friendlies Burnley have arranged ahead of their summer tour in Austria are
THREE "superschools" in Burnley and Pendle are nearer to being built. Lancashire County Council development control committee has voted to support plans for Unity College in Burnley, Marsden Heights Community College, Brierfield, and Sir John Thursby
A union is still waiting to talk properly to bosses at a factory which is to close. Barry Montgomery, of the GMB union, said he was waiting for management at Contrast Upholstery, Whalley Road, to contact him to discuss plans to move the firm's 66 staff
THE only church in Darwen with a set of fully functioning bells is wants to hear from people who would like to train as bell ringers. St Peter's Church, Church Street, has six regular Sunday morning bell ringers to toll their six bells but are still
LOWERHOUSE have signed Australian Aaron O'Brien as their new professional. The capture ends a six-week search for chairman David Wren after Aussie Jon Moss failed to join the club as paid-man at the 11th hour. O'Brien, 25, has been a regular for New
Plumber Duane Stott, from Laneshawbridge, scooped top spot in a British Plumbing Employers' Council (BPEC) competition. The 18 year old won the copper pipe section of the regional BPEC competition, and will now go into the national finals held at Derby
THE new Mayor of Pendle has predicted a year of prosperity of the borough. Coun Allan Buck, 62, took up the chains of office from Coun George Adam at Nelson Town Hall yesterday. And he told councillors he was keen to encourage the town's enterprising
Students from White Ash School, Oswaldtwistle, enjoyed a day at the racetrack when the 16 to 19 year olds took part in the British School of Motoring "Ignition" scheme. It gives young drivers their first chance to get behind the wheel in a safe environment
A TOP radio DJ was given the fright of her life - on a ghost tour of Samlesbury Hall. Radio 1 presenter Edith Bowman stopped off at the hall, in Preston New Road, during a whistle-stop tour of Lancashire ahead of the station's Big Weekend in Preston
A DOZEN motorists were caught driving illegally on a town's roads in just one day. Police and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) carried out a joint clampdown on car tax cheats in the Blackburn, catching 12 offenders. Some 10 vehicles parked
AN elderly woman died after a street row broke out in Nelson. Rehmat Jan, 71, of Oak Street, Nelson, suffered a heart attack following a confrontation on Tuesday afternoon. Paramedics were called to the address where she was pronounced dead at around
FIREFIGHTERS had to rescue two people from locked bedrooms in the same night. At midnight a crew was called to Livingstone Road, Blackburn, after an eight-year-old boy got locked in his bedroom. A crew spokesman said the boy had been playing with the
A POPULAR music shop that burned down in a suspected arson attack could re-open within a week at a new location. Musical instruments worth £100,000 were destroyed in a fire at the Music Box shop, Abbey Street, Accrington. It is believed the blaze started
BLACKBURN golfer Jack Brooks confirmed his England Under 16 credentials when land-ing the Lancashire Boys Championship at rain-lashed Leyland. The Pleasington member and QEGS student opened up with a two-over-par 72 before adding a superb 70 in atrocious
A SEVEN-YEAR old Darwen schoolgirl has received a thank you letter from the Queen after painting a portrait of her. Isabelle Charlton was nominated by teacher James Waddington at Holy Trinity Primary School who thought her effort was so good he urged
CANNABIS worth £1,300 has been seized in a police swoop. Police acting on information from the public raided a house in Surrey Road, Whitebirk yesterday. A 64-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of possession of Class C drugs
I am not the sort to swear for the hell of it. Occasionally when I see people coming to my country, nicking my jobs and generally not being British enough I may utter the odd word that rhymes with brats. But I have come to notice that there is no limit
A 32-YEAR-old care worker was sent to crown court charged with theft of thousands of pounds from residents of a home for people with learning disabilities where she worked. Tracey Ann Edmondson, 32, who formerly lived in Moor Lane, Clitheroe, was remanded
AN outgoing council leader said she had 'grave concerns' over the future of Blackburn with Darwen as her party was officially cast into opposition. Coun Kate Hollern worried about the inexperience of some councillors handed top jobs in the new ruling
ROSSENDALE United have hailed the addition of FC United to the new UniBond League set-up as like finding a new sponsor for the club. The restructuring has seen the creation of two 18-team First Divisions, with a north/south split from across the area
A DOMESTIC violence victim has re-lived an abusive relationship with an ex-partner as she gave her support to a new crackdown. Anna, not her real name, urged victims' friends and families to get help to mark the launch of a domestic violence strategy
A PERVERT who tried to rape a young girl and committed other sex offences against her has been jailed for six years. Colin Walker's crimes were discovered after the girl confided in close friends and they persuaded her to tell her teachers at school,
IN reply to Mr John Smith (LT, May 15) how have you come to the view that most of the people of Blackburn and Darwen voted Labour? Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Labour lose the council and also lose four main seats in Darwen and Blackburn? In
THE closure of the charity shop in Lord Street, Blackburn, is a great loss to many charities. As Carol Duggan rightly points out, many people relied on the premises to buy clothing and household items. I visited regularly, regardless of which charity
IN reply to Samur Afzal's article about the lack of tolerance to British Muslims. I feel it might be hard for the average British person to understand. For example, if you are born in say Holland, you are Dutch-Germany, Germany, and most other countries
I AM alarmed that 11 matrons are to be axed at Burnley and Blackburn hospitals. Modern matrons were introduced to drive up standards in hospital wards. The key tasks are to ensure quality care, increase hygiene standards, ensure good quality food,
A man who is believed to have jumped from the third storey of a car park has died as a result of his injuries. Police believe Ian Moulden, who was thought to be in his 40s, jumped from the town centre car park onto Lord Street. He died in the Royal
GREAT Harwood will bid to give their title chances a boost as they face champions Clitheroe at The Cliffe tomorrow. With two defeats to their name already, Paul Houldsworth's side will be hoping to build on their crushing win over Read in the Ramsbottom
Lancashire's Mike Wat-kinson has backed England coach Peter Moores' plan to give international players the chance to play as much county cricket as possible. Burnley bowler James Anderson flew to London and back yesterday after he was initially wanted
ACCRINGTON Stanley midfielder Andy Todd has signed for Rotherham - but 20-year-old Jay Harris has penned a new two-year deal at the Fraser Eagle Stadium. Todd was offered a new deal at the Reds but the right winger chose a shock move to Mark Robins'
MATT Derbyshire today reflected on a magical first season in the Premiership and vowed: I'm determined not to be a one-hit wonder'. The 21-year-old striker, who was named Blackburn Rovers' young player of the year at a special awards ceremony earlier
A 'CAREER conman' left a 75-year-old woman homeless after tricking her out of her house and £44,000 life savings. Anthony Gardiner, 43, of Central Avenue, Accrington, has been jailed for four years for preying on the pensioner after discovering she had
DAVE EDMUNDSON's job as Burnley FC's chief executive has been axed following a major reshuffle at the club. Mr Edmundson, 55, has been appointed the Head of Strategic Development at Turf Moor with immediate effect, a position which will concentrate on
BLACKBURN and Darwen's new mayor has promised to promote the borough and champion children's causes. Coun Maureen McGarvey was installed as the borough's first citizen at a council meeting last night. Coun Fred Slater was due to be mayor but he died
A WOMAN was just 30 minutes from death yesterday after becoming trapped in mud off a beach, according to firefighters. The 52-year-old woman, and her 62-year-old husband, from Blackburn, were off the Lytham coast in their boat when they got stuck in
