A TRAFFIC "danger zone" is getting 20 speed bumps in a bid to slow traffic. The £75,000 project in the Heasandford area of Burnley, which will see a new 20 mph limit, is the largest scheme of its type in the town. Residents had said that the streets
HUNDREDS of council staff are to go on an unlimited strike which unions say could have a "catastrophic" impact on local services. Union bosses say bins will not be emptied and streets not cleaned as they prepare for an "all out" strike as a result of
MOURNERS in pink said their final goodbyes to a bride-to-be who lost her fight with cancer days before she was due to be married. Rachel Stansfield of Mitella Street, Burnley, was taken to her last resting place in a pink coffin after she lost a three
A CONTROVERSIAL Pagan music festival faces additional restrictions after residents challenged a council's decision to grant it a licence. Pendle Council's decision to give the go-ahead to the organisers of the Shamania Lugnasadh festival was challenged
A HUGE rise in the rat population has seen a council receive more than 1,200 complaints about the vermin in just one year. The shock figures for Burnley, which equate to around three complaints a day, show that problems with vermin have risen by more
A MAN who has repeatedly phoned and sent text messages to his estranged wife will now be subjected to court-ordered psychiatric tests. Burnley magistrates heard how Paul Harry Higgins, 43, flouted a community order he was given for attacking victim Nicola
ROSSENDALE Lions are looking for a teenager to fly the flag for the Valley by becoming their Young Ambassador. They could ultimately win a prize of £1,500 to go towards the charity or organisation they are involved with, courtesy of the Lion movement
"TWO mega games" That's how Nelson manager Nick Jackson-Cooney described his side's final fixtures as they try to avoid relegation down to Division Two. And he is hoping his basement boys can pull off a great escape, starting with three points at home
CHORLEY manager Tony Hesketh has vowed to make sweeping changes to his squad for next season, even though the Magpies have just performed their own version of the great escape'. When Hesketh replaced Gerry Luczka in the Victory Park hot-seat in early
POLICE are warning the public to be vigilant of a postal scam that is being circulated in the Lancashire area. Letters have been sent from someone claiming to be from an Asian investment company using the name DBS Capital Investment Ltd. In the letters
There's a Western Night at the Holden Arms, Grane Rd, Haslingden on Saturday 26th April at 7.30pm. Admission: £15 with proceeds to the Mayor's Charity Fund . Hog roast, disco, country and western singer. Fancy dress optional.
OWEN Coyle is preparing to forego a summer holiday as he bids to boost his Burnley squad. "Come the end of the season, you might look for a couple of weeks here and there for a break, but, I've got to be honest, I've not," he said. "Already my diary
BLACKBURN with Darwen Citizens Advice Bureau faces an uncertain future after the council slashed its grant by 50per cent. The independent charity, founded in 1979, employs 12 staff and has more than 30 volunteers to advise 6,000 people a year on issues
A SCHOOLBOY was persuaded to hand over his phone to a 19-year-old man who then told the youngster "I've lost it". Blackburn Magistrates Court heard that the 14-year-old was then threatened when he asked for the mobile back when he heard it in Adam James
RACIST graffiti and far-right insignia was scrawled on cars belonging to Asian families in Clitheroe, police have revealed. The damage to cars in Henthorn Road and Garnett Road was reported last weekend and officers from Clitheroe Police are investigating
POLICE have appealed for witnesses following the theft of a TV from a electrical store in Padiham. Thieves made off with a 37 inch Panasonic TV encased in a large box from the Harry Garlick TV centre, Burnley Road on Tuesday. Police are looking for
ISOLATED farm houses and villages have seen a spate of vehicles thefts in recent weeks, police have revealed. The main target for thieves has been quad bikes and trailers from around the Bowland, Tosside, Newton and Gisburn areas of the Ribble Valley
THE Clarets last match of the season will have lower profile stewarding - but fans are being warned to abide by ground rules. Burnley FC introduced a more intensive stewarding and policing operation after an incident during the game against Watford on
JACK Straw had to defend the government's prison policy after an angry resident told him offenders were getting away with "a slap on the wrist". Marie Iddon, 47, accosted the Justice MInister at a meeting about underage drinking in the Manxman Road area
A LANCASHIRE firefighter and self confessed sports fanatic is going head-to-head with a cricket legend as part of a new entertainment show. Father-of-two Chris Rainford, 43, will be competing against former England and current Yorkshire captain Darren
JOHN Coleman has took a swipe at those criticising Stanley's management team - insisting relegated Wrexham would trade everything to be in their position. Colemen's men travel to the Racecourse Ground tomorrow, with the doomed Welsh club's fate already
Whilst the odds may be firmly stacked against Blackburn Rovers overhauling both Manchester City and Aston Villa in the race for an Intertoto place, no-one in the camp has thrown in the towel just yet. Brad Friedel, who was Rovers' hero against United
Blackburn Rovers chief Mark Hughes will demand the 'same again' from his players before they take the field against Portsmouth on Sunday. After a couple of below-par performances against Tottenham and Liverpool, Hughes was delighted with the way his
Blackburn teenager Qasim Niaz has made it through to Monday's Divisional Junior ABA finals. The 15-year-old will fight Wythenshawe's James Kelly, the current European silver medallist for his age group. Niaz earned his place in the final after a
HASLINGDEN CC skipper Graham Knowles has described David Bandy's debut as "out of this world". And he is hoping the Australian can produce more of the same tomorrow, with Nelson the visitors to Bentgate. The right-arm medium pace bowler produced an
BAXENDEN travel to champions Blackburn Northern in the game of the day in the Veka Ribblesdale League tomorrow. A much-changed Northern side were beaten by Barnoldswick last week, while Mark Rishton's Baxenden team saw off Earby by 100 runs. Padiham
Darwen face two tough home fixtures this weekend. On Saturday, they will entertain Netherfield in the Northern League with just one change to the team that lost to St Anne's last weekend, Gary Jackson replacing his son Nathan in the team. Mark Emery
A COUPLE who raised more than £8,000 for charity have presented their cheque to Macmillan Cancer Support. Gavin Roper and Kelly Love from Fence have raised over £8,000 for the charity by climbing Kilimanjaro and holding fundraising events including a
A WOULD-be soldier said to have picked up his partner and thrown her into a bush in a drunken row was given a community order. Burnley magistrates heard how a police officer had been alerted by a member of the public who had seen a woman being chased
ACCRINGTON Golf Club teen sensation Nikki Foster has continued building up her silverware collection after another outstanding achievement. Foster, 16, teamed up with 18-year-old Charlotte Wild of Mere Golf Club to land the Northern Foursomes Close Amateur
A 40-year-old man who screamed abuse at a store detective blamed his regional dialect for the misunderstanding" that he was being racist. Defence solicitor Roger Pickles told Blackburn magistrates that Christopher Lytollis originated from Cumbria where
YOUNGSTERS from Accrington and Rossendale College got the chance to see themselves on the cinema screen as a film starring seven performing arts students was screened at Manchester's Printworks. "The School that Roared" is a full-length film produced
The third day of the LV County Championship game between Lancashire and Somerset has been washed out due to rain. Lancashire are 17 runs behind Somerset's first innings total on 221 for 9.
DAVID Bentley possesses all the tools needed to become a major star for England in the build-up to the next World Cup. That's the view of Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, whose team must find a way of stopping the in-form Blackburn midfielder in Sunday's
A FORMER worker at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary has published memoirs from the sanctuary's early days. Irene Priestley's new book Mud, Toil and Tears details the day-to-day running of the sanctuary from 1967 to 1969. Its publication comes ahead of the
NEIL Fitzmaurice has taken a lunch break from rehearsals from Alan Bleasdale's On the Ledge which opens at the Liverpool Empire tonight. And he's full of enthusiasm for his first stage role in 12 years. "How could I not take the role?" he said. "I've
PUNK, rock, metal and indie music fans are in for a treat this Bank Holiday weekend when the annual Courtyard Festival returns to Blackburn. In its ninth year the festival will feature live music from the cream of local talent as well as up-and-coming
DARWEN Library Theatre is to host its first heavy metal night. Tickets for Darwen Metal Mayhem - on Saturday, October 10 - went on sale this morning. Headlining are Clovenhoof, with support coming from local bands Nightmare Vision and Eternal Water.
DANCING On Ice contender Zaraah Abrahams is doing things in reverse on her journey to stardom. As unlike most actors rather than moving from the north of England to the bright lights of broadway in search of their big break, instead Zaraah moved away
The Lib Dem and Tory alliance will be bidding to defend their two-year-old, three-member majority. There will be 54 candidates vying for the 15 seats up for grabs. Deputy council leader Margaret Lishman will defend her Briercliffe seat and Tory leader
It has already been a stormy campaign in Pendle, where the Lib Dems are hoping to hold on to their big majority and make it five years in control of the borough. The police have confirmed that they are investigating allegations of electoral fraud, against
Labour enjoyed 14 years of control before it lost out to the Conservatives in 2000, winning power back in 2002 but losing it again in 2004. Since this time last year, it has been a dramatic year on the political scene, with the Tories' grip on power
Turnout is a key factor in Hyndburn, where the wards are smaller than in many boroughs, and some seats could turn on just a handful of votes in what will be one of the tightest contests in Lancashire. Since the last election the standing of the opposition
POLICE have welcomed a fall of 7.8 per cent for recorded crime in the eastern division. The division, which includes Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, has seen a significant drop in the number of residents who are becoming victims of
Blackburn town hall has seen its fair share of twists and turns in the past year, and there could well be plenty more after May 1. Going into the election, the balance of power is held by three councillors who have all become independent since last May
BURNLEY manager Owen Coyle has revealed he is nurturing the next generation of Clarets. And he has backed 18-year-old duo Jay Rodriguez and Alex MacDonald to follow in the footsteps of Kyle Lafferty and Chris McCann as successful products of the youth
A "PARANOID" father of two attacked his then ex-partner after smashing his way into her home through a window at night, a court was told. James Andrew Thomas, 29, accused terrified Toni Muircroft of sleeping with somebody else, searched every room in
A WOMAN had to have two rings cut off her finger by firefighters at Accrington Fire Station. The middle-aged woman, who has not been named, walked into the fire station around 11.45am on Wednesday complaining of discomfort because of the two gold rings
This week's task was perhaps one of the more challenging - the teams had to design, manufacture and sell a product to trade. Most companies considering such a venture would take months in the design stages and setting up production lines and would
LIFE-saving heart defibrillators have been put in place at nine venues across Blackburn and Darwen. Around 70 staff at the council-run sites have been trained how to use the equipment if someone has a heart attack. Steve Rigby, director of culture,
BURNLEY'S cricketing star James Anderson was among the England players modelling the team's new kit at its unveiling at Lord's. The new kit is white with red piping with the inspiration said to come from the St George's flag. Makers Adidas have
A NEW supermarket has been approved for Darwen town centre. The Lidl store, between Duckworth Street, Vale Street and Robert Street was backed by councillors despite concerns from town centre traders that it would badly affect their businesses and result
POLICE are using an invisible 'DNA' dye to help catch thieves targeting vehicles carrying cash. Lancashire Police is spearheading a national initiative designed to cut the number of cash in transit robberies. Security companies usually use boxes containing
A MEETING is set to take place about traffic on the M65 North Valley corridor at Colne next month. Lancashire County Council has responded positively to a call tfirst made by Liberal Democrat councillor Tony Greaves at the last meeting of Pendle Council's
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman insists next season's squad will be about quality - not quantity. Wholesale changes in player personnel are expected at the Fraser Eagle Stadium this summer after the Reds endured a rocky League Two campaign. But
A 48-year-old banned driver avoided a custodial sentence after being spotted driving off a pub car park. Blackburn magistrates heard that Frederick Fell had numerous convictions for driving while disqualified and in September was jailed for four months
THE daughters of a former superintendent have paid tribute to a dedicated family man and police officer. Frank Foster's career with Lancashire Constabulary spanned three decades, but he also managed to find time for his beloved wife, two daughters, six
TWO men were caught red-handed trying to remove flooring flags in a house where damage of £15,000 was caused, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how police who turned up to the property on Brush Street, in the town, saw Steven John Rickwood,
Blackburn Rovers have dismissed reports emanating from Poland linking them with a summer move for the Groclin midfielder Radoslaw Majewski.
THE deadline for bids for paintings which belonged to Darwen artist Albert Hurst and his friends is this Sunday. Twelve sealed bids have been received for the silent auction' at Sunnyhurst Wood Visitor Centre, where the paintings by Albert Hurst, Tom
POLICE are appealing for information after thieves broke into one house and tried to break into two others early yesterday morning. The break-in happened at 2.40am at a house in Cloister Drive, Darwen, while residents were in bed. Burglars were disturbed
With the price of diesel as high as it is, maybe it is time to consider walking to work. I have contemplated this before when the price of a litre of car fuel hit the pound mark. But then one thing led to another and it rained and I decided to wait
FROM the internationally-famous Loch Ness monster to the Yeti and Bigfoot we do love the idea that this earth contains scary creatures that David Attenborough has yet to view close-up as part of a TV series. And even though England has no possibly mythical
A MAN whose body was discovered at the side of Accrington railway station, sparking a murder style investigation, died of natural causes. An inquest heard that when the body of Andrew Bucyzynski was discovered between a perimeter wall and a fence there
CLARKE Carlisle was initially lost for words when he was told manager Owen Coyle had described him as the best right-sided central defender in the Championship following last week's shut-out at Southampton. Instead, a broad yet humble smile spread across
POLICE have appealed for the owners of 20 bottles of milkshake and a quantity of cash to come forward. The property, which police believe is stolen, was recovered from two Burnley men in Thursby Road last Sunday at 2.20am. The six banana, nine chocolate
Blackburn's top Tae Kwon Do school has continued it's 100% success rate at black belt gradings after the latest students achieved top marks. Emma Llewellyn, 24, and Fransisca Davies, 22, were among the best performers amid the 600+ candidates from
SUPERMARKET bosses have announced that they have cut the number of plastic carrier bags that are being used at the store. And to celebrate the achievement, Morrisons in Blackburn has launched a new re-useable shopping bag in a move to be more environmentally
Huddersfield chairman Ken Davy has predicted a bright future for the club after appointing Stan Ternent as manager. The former Burnley boss has joined the Coca-Cola League One outfit after being given permission to talk to the Terriers by Barclays Premier
MP Jack Straw was "given an ASBO" during a rowdy session of Prime Minister's Questions. The Justice Minister and Lord Chancellor was told off by Michael Martin, speaker of the Commons, for being "far too noisy" as Tory leader David Cameron asked questions
I KNOW the decision has already been made to call it Wainwright Bridge but my 11-year-old daughter has come up with a name for the new bridge being built on Freckleton Street, Blackburn. Just look at it as you come down Montague Street and you will see
RE the letter from Councillor Salim Mulla (LT, April 22) Balance needed to cut smoking'. Whilst I applaud the sentiment behind Coun Mulla's call for balance on the issue of smoking and especially, increased measures to dissuade youngsters from taking
I HAVE just read Caroline Dutton's article regarding the Eve for You Lingerie Shop. Having plucked up the courage to go to see Janet, the owner, I found myself talking easily and without embarrassment to one of the most pleasant ladies you could wish
I WOULD like to draw attention to the plight of the elderly and disabled (of which there are quite a few) passengers of the Wensley Fold and Witton buses in Blackburn. Over a year ago the starting point for these two routes was on Ainsworth Street, very
A CONSERVATIVE MP has slammed a council's decision to fine a resident £210 for failing to close his bin lid. Nigel Evans, MP for the Ribble Valley, branded the decision by a magistrates' court to fine a father of four for over-filling his rubbish bin
Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy has this morning signed a new three-year deal at the club, keeping him at Ewood Park until 2011. The South Africa international, who has scored 11 goals this season, has signed a two-year extension to his existing
PORTSMOUTH manager Harry Redknapp has admitted he was outmanoeuvred by Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes last summer in the race to sign Roque Santa Cruz. Redknapp, who is renowned throughout the game as a master wheeler and dealer in the transfer market
A disgruntled pub-goer returned wearing a 'Hellraiser' mask and damaged a window after being ordered out of a pub. Blackburn magistrates heard that Alan Edwards had threatened to do just that when he was told to leave by landlord of the Moorgate Arms
I attended the Friends of Bold Venture Park meeting last month in the draughty Scout hut on the 'top park'. Groundwork has created a management plan as part of a submission for the Green Flag Award. Below are just a few points worth mentioning which
Andrew Flintoff has a maximum eight more chances to go into the Lord's Test with runs under his belt, after yesterday's first-ball duck against Somerset. Flintoff, hoping to make his first England appearance against New Zealand next month since a fourth
The following is a book review, written by Hilary Austin, Learning Mentor at St. Andrews's C.E Primary School, Oswaldtwistle. One of my favourite books is A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines. Hines paints a picture of a troubled teenager who lives
Police are investigating after a summer house was destroyed by fire at a house in Moorland Rise, Haslingden in the early hours of Friday morning. Firefighters were called to the blaze at 1am and managed to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring properties
A SERIOUS fire broke out at a terraced house on Kime Street, Burnley, just before midnight on Thursday. The ground floor of the house was well alight when firefighters got to the scene, and smoke was affecting houses on either side. The living room
A RELIGIOUS leader has called on voters in this May's local elections to reject political parties that spread racial hatred. The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, has made the rallying cry against extremism in a letter to the county's Anglican
