Archive

  • Blackburn Rovers legend Shearer confirmed as Newcastle boss

    FORMER Blackburn Rovers striker Alan Shearer has been confirmed as manager of Newcastle United for the remaining eight games of the season. Reports first emerged late on Tuesday night that the 38-year-old would fill the void created by Joe

  • Man jailed over Bacup cannabis farm

    POLICE found a £14,000 cannabis farm at a terrace house in Bacup after attending to investigate a burglary, a court was told. Officers discovered 63 cannabis plants with growing equipment at the property in Regent Street, which could have produced

  • Haslingden dad-of-two jailed for raping girl, 12

    A HASLINGDEN father-of-two who had sex with a 12-year-old girl has been jailed for seven years and four months. Adrian Wilson was prosecuted for rape despite the girl agreeing to sex because of her age. Preston Crown Court heard that while on bail

  • Brierfield residents told they cannot have alleygates

    FED-UP residents say teenage vandals are causing trouble in their Pendle street. People in Arthur Street, Brierfield, say youths have been causing disturbances and even launching missiles, terrifying residents. But despite the intervention of councillors

  • Burnley 'losers' may be winners in slimming finals

    THREE women from Burnley are through to a national slimming competition after losing 15 stone between them. Sue Rae, 42 lost four stone, dropping from a dress size 20 to a size 12, while Jayne Rostron 46, and Janette Petrie, 57 lost five and

  • Burnley school in special measures making progress

    A HEADTEACHER is confident his school is well on the way to providing a ‘quality educational experience’ following a monitoring inspection by Government inspectors. Shuttleworth College, Padiham, was again inspected by Ofsted officials to monitor its

  • Burnley burglar behind bars

    A “FIRST time” house burglar who pinched irreplacable photos of the victim's recently deceased sister is behind bars for 12 months. Christian Wheadon, 21, had struck whilst the woman was asleep in bed at her home in Sandhurst Street, Burnley, ransacking

  • Wife 'felt like prisoner' at mother-in law's Blackburn home

    A WIFE forced to work on a sewing machine by her mother-in-law despite being heavily pregnant felt like she lived in a prison, a court heard. Nagina Akhtar also alleged she was hit by Nasbbah Bibi on several occasions for answering back and refusing

  • A body blow for the region

    THE loss of 260 jobs is a terrible blow to East Lancashire. CD manufacturer Entertainment Distribution Company’s (EDC) announcement that its factory in Whitebirk will shut in December shocked business leaders and workers. Mike Damms, of East Lancashire

  • East Lancs sex offender stole from friends while on the run

    A SEX offender from East Lancashire, on the run for five years, stole thousands of pounds from people who befriended him. Joshua Karney, 30, served a four-month jail sentence after being found guilty of groping a 14-year-old boy while camping

  • Festival to return at new site

    A POPULAR Pendle festival is to return this year at a new site, it has been announced. Organisers of Pendle Witch Camp confirmed the event will take place over the Summer Solstice weekend of June 19 to 22. However, details of the new site, which will

  • Administrators called into Darwen firm

    THE parent company of one of Darwen’s oldest firms has gone into receivership. But administrators have sent out a message of reassurance about Shaws of Darwen, based in Waterside, near Hoddlesden. They said the firm was a profitable arm of parent

  • Crawshawbooth banger 'king's' new awards

    A BUTCHER from Crawshawbooth has found the recipe for success after his bangers were named the best in the North West . Geoff Riley, of Riley Brothers, Burnley Road, teamed up with Derek Jones, of Heritage Kitchen Range Preserves, Bacup, to

  • Who Would Want To Live In A Town Like This?

    Members of the Rossendale Borough’s Civic Trust will meet on Friday April 3rd at the Weavers’ Cottage, in Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, from 7pm to try to discuss the future of the area. Everyone is welcome to this meeting which promises to influence

  • Who Would Want To Live In A Town Like This?

    Members of the Rossendale Borough’s Civic Trust will meet on Friday April 3rd at the Weavers’ Cottage, in Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, from 7pm to try to discuss the future of the area. Everyone is welcome to this meeting which promises to influence

  • Wayne Rooney's old mate eyes Accrington Stanley deal

    WHEN he watches former strike partner Wayne Rooney scoring for England, there must be a tinge of regret. But now Michael Symes is focused on bagging the goals that will earn him a contract at Accrington Stanley for next season. While Rooney emerged

  • Rossendale and Darwen MP rapped for missing vote

    THE leader of a borough’s Liberal Democrats has criticised Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson for failing to attend a parliamentary vote on fuel poverty. Coun David Foster, who is also deputy leader of Blaxckburn with Darwen Council, said

  • East Lancs school pass rates are highest yet

    CHILDREN in East Lancashire primary schools are achieving higher standards than ever before, according to new Government figures. Click on the link to see the full results in XLS format - Both Lancashire County Council and Blackburn

  • Orders ‘overflowing’ at Blackburn jobs loss factory

    A FACTORY that is to close with the loss of 260 jobs has been so busy extra staff have been brought in, it has emerged. Now workers have questioned why the Entertainment Distribution Company (EDC), Philips Road, Whitebirk, is to shut at a time when ‘

  • Mobile CCTV vans to get off-road riders

    MOBILE CCTV vans are being used to catch off-road bike riders. A police operation targeting offenders has been put in place following complaints from residents in Great Harwood. Over the weekend Community Beat Manager PC Andy Sarchet and neighbourhood

  • Farewell to brave Rossendale girl

    A BUTTERFLY-themed funeral of a Rossendale girl who died after a long battle with ill health took place yesterday in Burnley. Severely disabled Georgia Fourie, nine, of Dean Lane, Water, died at the Royal Blackburn Hospital on Friday, March 20, after

  • Oswaldtwistle butchers' special sausages gobble up awards

    A butcher’s shop is proudly celebrating after being named award-winning sausage makers. Ye Olde Sausage Shop at Oswaldtwistle Mills’ food court has picked up an impressive host of gold awards after impressing national judges. Owners Dave Painting

  • Padiham aim to bounce back

    Padiham look to recover from their first defeat in 22 league games when they welcome Oldham Town to the Arbories. The Storks were beaten 2-0 by First Division leaders Bootle on Saturday and want to make up for that shock as they try to close the gap

  • Houston no problem for Ade

    ADE Akinbiyi was today expected to complete his move to American Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo. After agreeing personal terms and undergoing a routine medical at the Texan club, the 34-year-old was set to return to Burnley to finalise his Turf

  • Help the fight against knife crime in Lancashire

    PEOPLE in Lancashire are being urged to help the police in the fight against knife crime. Crimestoppers wants anyone who works with young people in the community to pass on information if they find out about them carrying knives. This

  • Bacup Borough v Colne tonight

    There is Vodkat Premier League derby action tonight when Bacup Borough look to get back to winning ways at neighbours Colne. Borough misfired on Saturday as they drew 1-1 with Congleton Town and were beaten by a single goal at big spending New Mills

  • Vow from East Lancashire health services to work together

    HEALTH bosses have pledged to work together to improve services after an investigation into the controversial shake-up of hospital services. Chief executives of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, primary care trust NHS East Lancashire, and

  • Expert’s bid to save Clitheroe workhouse

    CALLS to save a Victorian workhouse from demolition have been backed by the county’s top archaeologist. Plans to demolish Clitheroe’s community hospital to make way for a new housing development have been criticised by protesters including

  • Car keys warning

    MOTORISTS in Pendle have been warned about leaving car keys on show after two vehicles worth nearly £40,000 were taken in a raid. Thieves broke into a home in Eskdale Close, Reedley, through an insecure back window between 1am and 6am on Monday. They

  • Hospitals need an injection of common sense

    NO-one in their right mind enjoys staying in hospital. It’s something forced on people because they desperately need a significant operation or because they are seriously ill and must be closely monitored and hopefully made better. If they are physically

  • Blackburn ‘ref’ enjoys Damned good role in Brian Clough film

    AN East Lancashire football enthusiast said that he had not turned into an “Old Big ‘Ead” after featuring in the new big-screen movie about Brian Clough. Peter Quinn, 45, plays referee Bob Matthewson, who famously sent off Kevin Keegan and Billy Bremner

  • Green or blue?

    After getting used to the idea of paying green taxes, here’s a novel idea for the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith – blue taxes. Derek Berry, (name and address received).

  • Different ends of the spectrum

    I was interested to read Shuiab Khan’s column in which he complained about radicals and extremists. I do think, however, that he is probably the only one who has noticed a marked similarity between fanatical jihadists and the far right of the political

  • EU acts to stop Spanish scandal

    In my 10 years as an MEP, one issue has cropped up time and again from constituents: So-called Spanish land grabs. Con-stituents who buy property in Spain in good faith find it confiscated and demolished – sometimes at their own expense – in a

  • Pirates on the canal! 50ft narrowboat stolen in Chorley

    A £35,000 narrowboat has been stolen from a marina. The 50ft steel narrowboat Rebecca Kathleen was discovered missing from its moorings on the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Botany Bay. The boat belonged to the Harrison family of Leigh. They last visited

  • Why is the BBC free for foreigners?

    David Cameron claims that the ‘Tories’ will ‘freeze’ the BBC licence fee for one year in response to recession. Whilst this may be welcome news and, more to the point, party political electioneering on behalf of the Conservative Party, it will in reality

  • Accrington Stanley boss nominated for League Two award

    ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman has been nominated for the Coca Cola League Two manager of the month award for March. It is the first time that 46-year-old Coleman has ever been shortlisted for the award - although he faces stiff competition

  • Knuzden builder hit by recession helped grow cannabis

    A BUILDER hit by the recession and a broken arm which stopped him working got involved in cannabis production to try to ease his financial worries, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that police discovered a large-scale production

  • Rossendale United 3 Warrington Town 2

    ROSSENDALE United eased their relegation worries on Tuesday night when they beat Warrington Town 3-2. The Stags trailed 1-0 at the break despite dominating proceedings but flew out of the blocks in the second-half and player-boss Phil Eastwood bagged

  • Nelson couple sentenced for evading cigarette duty

    A MIDDLE AGED couple cheated the state out of more than £100,000 in duty by selling smuggled cigarettes and tobacco. Gary Calvert and his wife Patricia had 194,700 cigarettes and 590 kilos of tobacco in a bedroom at their terraced house when

  • Oliver aims to lead the Red Rose pace army

    OLIVER Newby admits he’s no longer Old Trafford’s young kid on the block as he strives to become a major weapon in Lancashire’s pace artillery. Over the past three seasons, the 24-year-old Blackburn-born quickie has shown glimpses of promise that he

  • Clubs dreaming of a long, hot summer

    THE credit crunch continues to bite and unemployment rockets beyond two million in the UK – but the area’s Lancashire League cricket clubs have battled through a winter of discontent hoping that summer will be scorching to put the smiles back on their

  • Accrington boss Coley suffers a pain in the backside

    ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman has often regarded his side's inaccurate shooting as a pain in the backside, but this time it did not leave him in agony. The Stanley boss yesterday fulfilled a forfeit for Sky’s Soccer AM programme,

  • Chorley boss Hesketh defends his star Ward

    CHORLEY boss Tony Hesketh has leapt to the defence of his ex-Birmingham City star Chris Ward – but admits he will never be able to change him. The much-travelled Ward came in for criticism at the weekend after his display in the 3-2 UniBond League First

  • Brett's up for Blackburn Rovers relegation fight

    BRETT Emerton insists he would not swap places with any of Blackburn Rovers’ relegation rivals as he bids to play his own role in the battle to beat the drop. The Australian midfielder returns to Lancashire next week, as he continues his recovery

  • Five youngsters offered pro deals to stay at Burnley

    BURNLEY manager Owen Coyle has offered professional contracts to five of the club’s second year apprentices for the 2009/10 season. Central defenders Nik Kudiersky and Chris Lynch, central midfielders Chris Anderson and Alex-Ray Harvey and