A £180,000 scheme to create mountain bike trails through stunning scenery in the Ribble Valley has been given the go ahead. The Forestry Commission estate at Gisburn Forest, near Clitheroe, will be transformed into one of the county’s premier
A SPECIAL school has been broken into for the third time this year — with the headteacher labelling the attacks ‘soul destroying’. Police said two TV sets were taken at Pendle View Primary, Gibfield Road, Colne, at 3.30pm on Saturday.
The following activities are available at Rossendale Museum, Whitaker Park, Rawtenstall; read on.. Activity box Sunday 5th April Try out the museum's new activity box, specially created for pre-school children. Available for use at the
A SENIOR Pendle councillor is to be investigated following an incident at a meeting to discuss postal voting. Town Hall chiefs today confirmed Coun Tony Greaves is to be probed after a complaint was made to Pendle Council. The Liberal
THE Environment Agency is encouraging East Lancashire businesses and residents to reduce their demand for water to help prevent future shortages. Publishing its water resources strategy for England and Wales, the Environment Agency has set out measures
RESIDENTS in Blackburn with Darwen can now for the first time vote on where criminals will carry out their community service. Blackburn MP and Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith launched a new campaign today where
AN East Lancashire MP is calling for an inquiry after his mother died from a suspected hospital superbug infection. Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said his mum, Betty Evans, had a routine operation to remove a gallstone from her bile duct on March 17 at
WHAT’S ON OFFER: Come and see bananas growing in the tropical zone, coffee plants and pineapples in the edible zone, or experience a Mediterranean atmosphere in the temperate zone, and beautiful specimen plants in the flowering and foliage zones. Visit
WHATS ON OFFER: Lancaster Castle was the setting for the imprisonment and trial of the Pendle Witches. Guided tours are available of the vaulted Shire Hall, the drop room, Hadrian’s Tower, dungeons, the grand jury room and courts. The castle is
WHATS ON OFFER: Lights flash, smoke swirls, the music pounds. You're armed but you feel vulnerable and you sense movement. Your heart pounds as you race for cover........ Why imagine when you can play for real at Megazone Morecambe. Experience
WHATS ON OFFER: One of the UK's best known aquariums the Blackpool Sea Life centre houses Europe's most comprehensive collection of tropical sharks. It also showcases native and tropical marine life, plus a superb Amazone exhibition, complete with
EAST Lancashire’s MPs claimed almost £900,000 in expenses in 2007/08, it has been revealed. For the third year running, Janet Anderson, who represents Rossendale and Darwen, made the biggest mileage claim in parliament at £11,996 after racking
WHAT'S ON OFFER: Accrington boasts a 70-stall Victorian market hall built in traditional style in 1868 and which has undergone extensive renovation and redecoration. At the rear of the market hall is a traditional open market of some 180 stalls, most
A PROBE has been launched into the sale of illegal digital TV boxes after a home was raided in Nelson. Neighbourhood officers in Whitefield have arrested a man in his 20s in Westmorland Street on suspicion of trading in bogus boxes. He has been released
LAST week I was out walking between Gisburn and Rivington when I saw a white crow. A couple of years ago a Lancashire Telegraph photographer saw a white sparrow. When I wrote about this sparrow, scientific opinion was that albino birds and animals
VOLUNTEERS are still required to re-establish Hoddlesden Youth Club. A youth group existed in the village until a year ago when a lack of adult supervision forced its closure, but organisers are hopeful they can get it going again. Six months ago community
A BURNLEY snooker hall has closed after it was revealed that the site will not be saved by the company’s new owners. Snooker firm Riley’s were rescued from administration by Valiant Sports Limited this week, but they will not be saving the Riley’s Snooker
COMEDY shows can be so diverse - that’s part of their appeal. You get the challenging ones, the silly ones and with Rob Brydon you get the warm and friendly one. For over 90 minutes Brydon took hold of a sold out hall and appeared completely at
AN HISTORIC furniture maker is seeing renewed interest in its products from UK buyers because of a slump in the strength of the pound. HJ Berry has been manufacturing chairs and furniture in Chipping since 1840 and bosses claim the current weakness of
THERE’S no dispute that as a nation we cannot continue burying our waste in the ground. There isn’t the room on this island to do it without causing major health and pollution hazards to anyone living nearby. And the amount of new landfill sites this
PENDLE’s first citizen for 2009-10 has been confirmed as veteran Barnoldswick councillor Marjorie Adams. Coun Adams, a member of the scrutiny management team and licensing committee, will assume the chains of office from Coun Shelagh Derwent in May.
Many people are complaining that the new road markings on the Rising Bridge roundabout are confusing and have made problems worse. What do you think?
ON-LOAN Adam Kay is hoping to use his spell at Accrington Stanley to earn himself a new deal with Burnley. The 19-year-old has not broken into the Clarets side since graduating from the youth team last summer, and after only penning a one-year contract
ACCRINGTON Stanley’s squad will hope to be a real pain in the backside for their manager tomorrow. John Coleman serves a Soccer AM forfeit after his side recorded their 10th league clean sheet of the season against Darlington. The boss
IT might have only lasted a few stolen days but last week's sunshine was enough to re-awaken my love of summer. It's just the best time of year, isn't it? And I've got my fingers, toes, and everything else crossed that we get a good one this year.
ALTHOUGH I’m not a big Jonathan Ross fan, I always seem to find myself tuning in to his Friday Night chat show. But I do pity whoever joins me to watch as I moan the same moans every time. There is a very fine line between love and hate and the two
PREPARE your tastebuds for a culinary extravaganza as the 12th Lancashire Food Festival comes to Accrington next weekend. The festival will see foodies from across the county flocking to the town hall to sample and buy food, with traditional Lancashire
Address: Clitheroe Road, Chatburn, BB7 4JY. Phone number: 01200 440760. Lancashire Telegraph review by John Anson from March 29, 2009. FINALLY it appears as though spring has sprung. The birds are singing, the sun is (almost)
THE Women’s Centre at Darwen Town Hall is looking to offer more services to people in the community. Opened five-years-ago, the centre aims to help women to reach their potential by offering health, well-being and practical educational support
Two years ago Kelly Wolstencroft joined the Army Vetinary Corps after completing an animal management course at Myerscough College. Now, along with Sadie the Springer, they are carrying out vital explosives searches in Afghanistan.
EMPTY buildings owned by Rossendale council are costing tax payers more than £80,0000 as they remain idle, new figures uncovered by opposition councillors have revealed. Unused parts of the town hall extension are costing nearly £30,000 a year, figures
WHAT’S ON OFFER? Explore this 15th century country home, try the tour and take in the pretty woodland trail. Built during Tudor times and altered and extended during Stuart and Victorian eras, it now stands as it was in 1850. Nobody
WHAT’S ON OFFER? Dedicated to the history of Bremetenacum Veteranorum, the Roman name for what is now Ribchester. The museum was built above the remains of the headquarters building of the Roman fort in 1914 and opened to the public the following
There is no doubt that the most famous person produced by Rochdale was the one and only Gracie Fields — but there are many others which spring into the minds of those who love Lancashire as much as I do. There is Edwin Waugh, often called
Volunteers from Clitheroe manufacturing firm 3M been working to encourage amphibians at Salthill Quarry nature reserve. They have been clearing a large overgrown pond on the site and developing suitable habitat for frogs, toads and newts.
IT’S that time of the year when you can’t help but feel jaded. With the arduous post-Christmas slog taking its toll, and the lure of a foreign beach still way on the horizon, it’s the most popular time of the year to get away for a short break
ON May 31, 2008, watched by more than seven million viewers, Jodie Prenger was crowned the winner of I'd Do Anything, the BBC TV show that searched for an unknown actress to play Nancy in Oliver! in the West End. It was an extraordinary achievement,
A LEAFLET distributed in Rossendale by a councillor has been branded as “disgraceful”. Coun Peter Steen’s election campaign has come into contention as county councillors blasted the Bacup man for using scaremongering techniques. A leaflet
NO POLICE stations will be closed if Dr Who-style kiosks are introduced to Lancashire’s streets, bosses have pledged. Plans have been drawn up for a £70,000 call box, similar to those immortalised by Dr Who’s time travelling Tardis in the BBC
A CRACKDOWN on discarded cigarette butts is to take place in Burnley town centre. The council is stepping up its efforts in the Keep Burnley Clean campaign, aimed at attracting more visitors, shoppers and businesses into the town. Council staff will
ROSEGROVE action group wishes to congratulate Mr and Mrs Marjorie and Roland Whinney on their golden wedding anniversary. Marjorie is a big help to the action group.
LOWERHOUSE Primary School held its Red Nose Day and raised £200. Staff would like to thank all who wore something red at school. The children were treated to a special assembly when Lancashire Music came into school.
A FULL planning application is in for a flat roof conversion and external cladding at Maden Fold, Gannow Lane from Tayyabah Bakery. Any comments please quote APP/2009/0124 before March 31.
ROSEGROVE Infants School would like to thank everyone who has helped over the last two weeks to raise money for Books for School, Marie Curie and Red Nose Day. A massive £800 was raised by the sponsored read so the school and children received
NEW plans to make a Grade I listed land-mark the centrepiece of Todmorden have been unveiled. Public consultation has taken place over proposals to renovate Todmorden Town Hall and a feasibility study has been drawn up by a development group, established
I’M wondering if whoever designed the road markings on the Rising Bridge roundabout studied the works of Jackson Pollock. Like his paintings, I can't make hide nor hare of them. Steve Caddy, Bolton Avenue, Accrington.
IT isn’t racial discrimination to mimic an accent. When I was younger and on holiday at a caravan site, we all mimicked each other’s accents, be they manc, scouse. scot or any. It didn’t cause offence or humiliation of any sort. Why suddenly is it so
DUE to the hard work of the Coalition, especially executive member for regeneration Alan Cottam, who personally worked towards detailed and responsible negotiations with the private bus company, the popular No19 bus has now been reinstated along with
ON Friday, February 20 at 12.15pm I was admitted to Blackburn Urgent Care Centre and two hours later to the Coronary Care Unit. A doctor informed me I was in urgent need of a cardiac pacemaker, but this operation could not be performed until February
ROSSENDALE Borough Council has won a prestigious local government award for demonstrating the highest possible standards and ethics. The council beat Ceredigion, Leeds City Council, Lincolnshire, Newark and Sherwood and Newcastle City Council
HUNDREDS of new Blackburn Rovers fans have sprung up in The Gambia, thanks to one enthusiastic supporter. The famous blue and white halves are becoming the unofficial uniform of beach sellers, thanks to Ian Wiggins who got fed up of seeing
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has renewed calls for an official inquiry into the Iraq War. The MP was speaking at Westminster following an Opposition Day debate, called by the Conservatives. He urged the Tories to “show some humility” because without them
Two Mount Carmel teachers are appealing for old mobile phones to be donated for a good cause. Mr Sweeney and Mr Davies are assisting in taking handicapped children on a HCPT Pilgrimage to Lourdes at Easter. To raise money for this, they
POLICE in Briercliffe are warning youngsters caught riding mini motos and trial bikes illegally they could have their vehicles crushed. The warning follows a number of complaints from people about youths riding the bikes on land near Balderstone Lane
COLIN Murdock insists John Coleman deserves the League Two manager of the month award after Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Rotherham United completed Accrington Stanley’s most successful month for 51 years. Stanley’s record of four wins and two draws from seven
BLACKBURN Rovers ace Stephen Warnock has shown his charitable side by lending support to East Lancashire Hospice’s Charity Golf Day. The event – which marks the Hospice’s 25th year – is to be held at Wilpshire Golf Club on Saturday July 4,
IF Jimmy McIlroy had one wish in football, it would be to play the modern game. “There are two things that I regret,” confessed the Burnley legend. “That I never played on the surfaces that they have nowadays, and I never kicked the ball
INDUSTRIAL units at the rear of Lowerhouse Cricket Club are set to be reduced in size in a bid to lease them. The owner of the site was granted planning permission for four units in June 2007, but has found it difficult to let them.
COMPANIES that are willing to take a risk during the recession could reap the benefits in the long run, according to a leading businessman. President of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, John Getty, was speaking at the ‘Chamber Curry Club’ event at
YOUNGSTERS brought their favourite fairy tales up to date with a spectacular rap performance. Classics such as three little pigs and gingerbread men were transformed by year one pupils at Longshaw Community Infant school in Blackburn by rapping, using
A POPPY Appeal organiser is needed by the Darwen branch of the Royal British Legion. The branch, which almost closed last year because of a lack of members, has managed to fill all committee positions apart from this. President Bryan Thompson said:
A MERGER of Lancashire’s police force and its Cumbrian counterpart will not happen “in our lifetime,” according to the chief executive of the National Policing Improvement Agency. Speaking at a workforce modernisation conference, Peter Neyroud said the
USERS of Sunnyhurst Wood are being asked not to pick the flowers beginning to bloom. Last year the Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood planted 1,200 daffodil and bluebell bulbs for walkers to enjoy, but have found that they are being taken away, or picked and
Lancashirewalks.com has just past the 10,000 hits record, doubling its visitors rate in six months. The website was set up in October 2007 by retired teachers John Griffiths, 57 and Bob Clare, 58. “From the start our aim has been to attract the
EAST Lancashire will have more then £100million pumped into its health service when all its projects have been completed. NHS East Lancashire has invested £60million into the area and has a further £40million in the pipeline to bring its facilities into
Amazing isn’t it? The other day on the local radio, I heard an advert warning that the authorities were on the track of benefit cheats. These people at the lower end of society, who are claiming a few extra pounds more than they are entitled to, to make
I greet the news regarding a multi-million pound town centre facility for the youth of Blackburn (what about Darwen?) with mixed feelings. The plans are indeed marvellous and I hope the centre will be appreciated. Why mixed feelings? Well I hope that
J Colman clarifies why bureaucratic gobbledygook is used (LT, March 24). A typical example is the defence the Minister of Justice makes to the criticism of letting criminals get away with just a caution after committing serious crimes: “I have no knowledge
I AM writing with regard to the recent press coverage of the yellow zig-zag lines at school entrances. On Friday March 20, I arrived outside the main entrance of St John’s Primary School, Great Harwood, at 3.05pm. There was a parked car the zig-zags
BLACKBURN Cathedral has launched a £1million fundraising campaign for its choir. The initiative prompted a leading councillor to question whether church leaders had got their priorities right. Church officials said they were aware that the appeal
BURNLEY’S on-loan defender Rhys Williams missed out on international action on Saturday as Wales suffered a potentially fatal blow to their World Cup hopes. The Middlesbrough defender was not picked by John Toshack but looked on as Wales’ hopes
Steven Burke swops track for road next month after quickly coming to terms with his latest world championship disappointment. Indeed, the 21-year-old from Colne has already held his post mortem into missing a medal at the Pruszkow velodrome in Poland
Andre Ooijer starred for Holland as Scotland were outclassed in Amsterdam on Saturday night. The Blackburn Rovers defender helped shut out the Scots as the Dutch strolled to a 3-0 win in the World Cup qualifyer - but the win was shrouded in
BURNLEY’s Youth team defeated their Chester City counterparts 3-0 at the weekend, with Liam Newman, Oliver Devenney and Dominic Knowles on the scoresheet.
STAFF in the theatre unit at Royal Blackburn Hospital have been told that all overtime is to be cancelled. They were also told in a meeting that a reliance on agency staff was to end, in a bid to get staffing levels right. But hospital bosses say this
This week my daughter made shepherd’s pie at school. The week before she cooked sweet and sour pork, and before that she knocked up a very tasty tuna pasta salad. I’m very grateful to her teacher for passing on these skills – because all she’s learned
FIREFIGHTERS joined forces to raise awareness of a woman’s fight against leukaemia and to encourage potential bone marrow donors to come forward. Julie Patefield, of Colne, is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant as she battles the disease,
AN Accrington apprentice has scooped a top award. Gemma Topping was named apprentice of the year at Lancashire County Council’s first countywide annual Learners Awards last week. The award celebrates the success of learners who have enrolled on an apprenticeship
AN INTERNATIONALLY- recognised ceramic artist who is inspired by her religion, heritage and travels is to show her work in East Lancashire for the first time. Burnley-born Shahida Ahmed uses her base in Higherford Mill, Barrowford, to create her master-pieces
STEPHEN Warnock believes Blackburn Rovers’ defenders are finally getting the help they deserve after insisting a nightmare start to the campaign was not all it seemed. Warnock has played both midfield and defence in Rovers’ fight against relegation this
Dessie Hughes believes he has his best ever chance of winning the Grand National with Black Apalachi. The gelding was the County Kildare handler’s first runner in the race 12 months ago - but he only got to the second fence. Black Apalachi made up for
AT LEAST 35 new waste plants are to be built across Lancashire in the next 10 years as the county runs out of landfill space. And the Lancashire Telegraph has obtained the draft list of 66 potential sites. At least two recycling plants
Bacup Borough salvaged one point from a game they could have lost had it not been for keeper Phil Melville. Melville saved well on three occasions before he was finally beaten by his team-mate Jacub Wood, who could do nothing about his own goal as the
Darwen put a dent in the promotion hopes of Oldham Town with a 2-2 draw and were unlucky not to claim all three points. The Salmoners opened the scoring after 15 minutes as Liam McMillan latched on to a through ball to score. Darwen were made to pay
A LAST-gasp winner from brace ace Adam Farrell led to smiles and celebrations for Chorley but sent luckless Rossendale United plunging towards the Vodkat League. Farrell struck twice to seal an end-to-end derby and leave deflated United boss
DEPLETED Clitheroe claimed a fine draw at Newcastle Blue Star and were within seconds of a memorable win. The Blues were without several first team regulars and were expected to be very much the sideshow against free-scoring Blue Star. But they refused
Ramsbottom claimed a much-needed victory with a 6-3 win over struggling St Helens Town - but it was not as clear cut as the scoreline would suggest St Helens took a shock lead after just five minutes when the home side failed to clear their defence and
Gary Brent will be Enfield's professional after all. Brent had agreed to return as professional after taking over from Brandon Hiini in the middle of the 2008 season but Enfield had to look elsewhere after he took a job at Rugby School. However, they
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman was pleased with a point after seeing his side hold Rotherham United to a goalless draw on Saturday. The result extended the Reds’ unbeaten run to six matches – just one short of their best streak since
ADE Akinbiyi has backed Jay Rodriguez to be a hometown hero for years to come. The teenager’s rise through the Burnley ranks has come as no surprise to experienced campaigner Akinbiyi, who could this week complete a move to Major League Soccer
AMBULANCE workers are being balloted in a row over proposed new working practices. Bosses at North West Ambulance Service have produced a new bulletin to staff outlining their “workforce redesign”, which includes plans for re-evaluating pay grades and
Chris Flanagan's sports blog: Richard Branson appeared to take a bafflingly large share of the glory, but yesterday Jenson Button became a genuine contender for the Formula 1 World Championship for the first time. Lewis Hamilton rose from
