HUNDREDS of Lancashire driving instructors may never have received criminal record checks, it has emerged. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has revealed to the Lancashire Telegraph that it is in the middle of checking the background of the
AN INVESTIGATION is underway after a metal footbridge collapsed. Residents of Chorlton Street and Wesley Street, Blackburn, awoke yesterday morning to find the footbridge over Blakewater stream collapsed. One end of the bridge had come
TROUBLEMAKERS have been warned to stay away from the Clarets’ Lancashire derby tie with Blackpool next week. Police will mount a high-profile operation with colleagues from the British Transport force, when the Seasiders visit Turf Moor on Tuesday in
A FIFTH man has been charged in connection with a terrorism plot to assassinate Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Krenar Lusha, 29, of Moore Street, Derby, has been charged with three offences under the Terrorism Act and will appear at Westminster Magistrates
THE number of people rescued by firefighters has hit an all-time high in the North West, with more than 150 people a month being saved from car crashes and fires. The new figures, released by the Fire Brigades Union are the first statistics
ROADS and footpaths in Burnley - including a crime-hit route - will benefit from a £500,000 highways windfall from Lancashire County Council. Borough and county councillors will meet next Monday, when they are expected to rubberstamp an extensive array
A BUSY road in Darwen has been renamed in honour of a businessman dedicated to putting the environment on the industrial and public agenda. Eccleshill Road will now be known as Paul Rink Way in to recognise the contribution Mr Rink has made
LANCASHIRE Muslims making the Hajj pilgrimage are being given advice from the Government in a bid to stop them falling victim to rogue firms. Each year more than 25,000 British Muslims travel to Mecca for Hajj, but some are defrauded by disreputable
RED faced bosses at a mental health hospital have apologised after releasing figures that suggested it was the least secure in the country. Whalley-based Calderstones NHS Trust insists security is a top priority and assured nearby residents
A 34-year-old man repeatedly broke into a Blackburn mosque and stole cash from a charity collection box. Blackburn magistrates heard that Salim Ali was eventually caught after closed circuit TV showed him entering and leaving the place of worship
THE leader of the TUC delivered a blunt message to the Government on public sector wages, saying decent rises for millions of workers could be afforded. General secretary Brendan Barber said it was not fair that families on low incomes were
RESIDENTS campaigning to prevent a village’s ninth phone mast have asked for help from Gordon Brown and Prince Charles. The Anti Mast Group Baxenden has over 100 supporters who are fighting the latest plans for a mast in Hollins Lane on the opposite
A procession took place between the civic hall and Whitworth Square on Sunday as the Whitworth Rushcart event made a return to the town. People dressed up for the occasion, which included dancing from the legendary Coconutters and performances by the
The funeral of a Chorley military hero is being held this week. David Green, 63, from Brinscall, was given a Military MBE for Gallantry for his services in Aden, Yemen, in February 1967. Mr Green, a former member of the 1st Battalion
DARWEN voters who want postal or proxy votes for the Darwen town council referendum are urged to contact Blackburn with Darwen Council. Postal vote applications must be received by 5pm on October 1 and proxy vote applications by 5pm on October 8. Postal
AN ARSONIST targeted a car on a Blackburn drive twice in one night. Firefighters were called to Dunoon Drive in Shadsworth first at 10.50pm when neighbours were able to extinguish the blaze, then again at 3am when the same Renault Megane was
A BLACKBURN company is tapping into techniques used by Britain’s Olympic athletes in a bid to boost the performance of its employees. Philips Components, Philips Road, has embraced the concept of Visualisation - a form of Neuro Linguistic Programming
Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Dunn is still expected to enter talks to extend his Ewood Park stay after an impressive start to the season. With two years still left on his contract, negotiations will not be rushed but both parties remain confident
A DOORMAN stopped on his way home from work in Darwen assaulted two police officers after he had been handcuffed. Blackburn magistrates heard that Paul Anthony Sewell shoved one officer against a car and when another intervened, he punched
A DARWEN teenager has admitted killing a man in the town. Terence Gaskin, 18, of Bright Street, pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to the manslaughter of Kenneth Turnbull on August 11 this year. Mr Turnbull, 51, from Limes Avenue,
A ROCKY Horror-themed fancy dress night will be held to raise funds for the Sophie Lancaster foundation. The event, on Friday, will be at the Brooks Club, Infant Street, Accrington. It has been organised by Sophie’s friends, Eleanor Cocker of Clayton
THE level of night time cover in Lancashire care homes is to be reduced in a cost-saving measure. But plans to axe staff ‘sleep-in’ shifts overnight have been put on hold. Proposals to cut the number of night time assistants from three to two in all
Former Blackburn Rovers striker Tommy Johnston has died aged 81, having made his name in the game as one of the great footballing journeymen. Johnston’s goals helped Rovers regain their top flight status in 1938, ending a ten-year absence, after signing
A MAN has been released on bail in connection with the death of 19-year-old Andrew Taylor. The teenager died when the car he was travelling in smashed into a crash barrier in Blackburn Road, Clayton-le-Moors on Saturday. A 37-year-old man who was arrested
I SEE the local Gestapo has been in action again, this time to inflict a £70 fine on the pensioner whose vile crime was to place her husband’s disabled parking pass upside down on the dashboard. Have these people who patrol our streets not the sense
FORMER Ajax youngster Kiran Bechan will be out to make his English dream a reality at Ewood Park this week – as Blackburn continue to keep their eyes out for new blood. The Dutch winger started a trial with Rovers yesterday with chairman John Williams
I HAVE been researching my family tree but seem to have come to a full stop. Maybe someone can help? My grandfather, James Howarth (sometimes spelled Haworth) was born in Darwen on Greenway Street in 1887 and his elder brother William was born in 1885
I am writing to let readers know that while some studies suggest up to a quarter of us do not eat breakfast at all, it is a very important meal. As well as being able to make improvements to our general wellbeing, it is also a chance to get some fruit
MAY I ask if anyone would kindly either loan or sell me the piano score for “Rawtenstall Annual Fair.” I am an ex-Blackburnian (also Mellor) and take part in charity shows in Wareham, Dorset. Our next production is based on the “Old Time Music Hall
A TEENAGER died and another has been injured in a motorbike collision at a notorious spot. Joshua James Holmes, 18, suffered multiple injuries when his bike collided with a Volkswagen Polo on the A59, Gisburn. His devastated family paid tribute to
Padiham’s match against Chadderton tomorrow night has been postponed as Chadderton are involved in a FA Vase replay. Darwen and Colne will attempt to play their Vase match tomorrow night and Bacup face Squires Gate on Wednesday in the league.
ACCRINGTON favourite David Lloyd is delighted to see his hometown club back among the silverware after playing his part in the transformation of the Thorneyholme Road club. Accrington finished last season bottom of the Lancashire League and facing possible
TRANSFER-LISTED Gabor Kiraly insists he will only leave Burnley on his own terms. The Hungarian goal-keeper is holding out for the right offer after being told by Clarets boss Owen Coyle earlier this summer that he is free to join a new club. And the
Midfielder Vince Grella is an injury doubt for Blackburn Rovers’ weekend clash with Arsenal after pulling out of Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan on Wednesday night with a calf problem. Coach Pim Verbeek insisted Grella’s prognosis
ROBBIE Fowler is set to become a Blackburn Rovers player early next week after a short-term deal finally looks to have been thrashed out. The former England and Liverpool striker will put pen to paper on a pay-as-you-play deal, which will keep him at
A MOTORIST drove a car into a traffic warden who was standing on the pavement after getting a ticket. Council bosses said it was the latest in a series of attacks on parking attendants across Blackburn and Darwen. The warden, who was
A SEX attacker was caught out indecently assaulting a teenage girl by closed circuit cameras he claimed he had installed to catch a thief. Sixty-nine year old Leonard Hoy was frequently captured on video parading naked around his home, Manchester’s Minshull
COUNTY council bosses have vowed to improve their fostering service after a report found it to be “in breach of regulations.” The Ofsted report into Lancashire’s children’s department said services for vulnerable, looked-after children were
TWO inches of raw sewage flooded pavements and gardens after bursting through a manhole cover. And Hyndburn Homes, the housing association which owns the pipe, has been criticised after its emergency helpline number was down during the problem. This
