A FOUNDATION has been set up in memory of a cult rock artist and cartoonist from Rossendale. The Ray Lowry Foundation aims to provide a scholarship to a student studying a course in art to a higher degree level, and to make financial awards linked
A BABY has died in her mother’s arms after a seven-day fight for life. Doctors switched off the life support machine for little Faith Cook after she showed no improvement in her condition. Her mum Helen Benson, 26, said doctors had told
A “ROAD rage” driver who lied to a judge to try to avoid a jail term is behind bars – for three times longer than he originally got. Farhan Syed, 22, was sent to prison for nine months by Recorder Paul O’Brien, after earlier being convicted of perjury
A CHARITY which provides respite care for disabled children is facing being thrown out of its base. Caring Today, which offers a lifeline to more than 130 families, may be forced to move from Brierfield Community Centre to the town hall. Pendle Council
Rossendale Museum in Whitaker Park Rawtenstall has the Fertile Earth exhibition by Progressive Threads until February 21st (not Mondays or Fridays)
VETERAN swimmer Tommy Duckworth helped open Darwen’s new leisure centre today – 76 years after launching its predecessor. Tommy, 84, was guest of honour at the official opening, attended by around 150 VIPs including Blackburn Rovers manager
Archive photographs of Ramsbottom have been placed on Bury Council's website. They look back over many decades and can be viewed for free. See www.buryimagebank.org.uk
I WAS horrified to read about the rape of a child in Great Harwood. The fact that the offender had previously been charged with raping another child in St Helens and then released on bail by a judge made it even more horrific. Even more amazing, in
AN investigation has been launched at Stonyhurst College after an alleged drug-related incident. The Roman Catholic school in Hurst Green is an internationally-renowned boarding and day school that attracts pupils from all over the world. It currently
THE sky’s the limit for a daredevil grandma after she carried out a 14,000ft tandem parachute jump for charity. Retired nurse Dymphna Pepper is backpacking around Australia and took the plunge at Byron Bay, New South Wales, to raise cash for Rossendale
THIS programme arrived much-hyped, with a strong on-screen team and a decent concept. The idea of award-winning radio phone-in host Gary Bellamy going out and about to meet “his people” is a bit post-Alan Partridge only, on first showing, not
FLORENCE Welch, aka Florence and the Machine, has announced a new tour, including two dates at Blackpool’s magical Empress Ballroom. Before jetting off, Florence will appear at the BRIT Awards on Tuesday, February 16, to perform a duet of You
BURNLEY left back Brian Easton is set to rejoin Hamilton Academicals on loan for the rest of the season. Owen Coyle brought Easton to Turf Moor from Hamilton in the summer but the 21-year-old Scot has made only one appearance for the Clarets in the Carling
WATCHING roughly eight Sky+ed episodes of this taught me two things: why the world is hurtling towards full unemployment and just how my teachers managed to make science so boring. Basically, this programme does what it says on the tin.
AFTER 25 years you might expect this hit show to be showing its age — not a bit of it. This new touring production of the musical which captivated audiences is still as fresh as the day it was born, with the power to wring the emotions and allow the
Chorley motorcycle ace Paul Bolton is all revved up to help a life-saving charity. The 29-year-old daredevil is fast becoming one of the rising stars of Extreme Enduro racing, where competitors tackle tough cross-country courses with tricky obstacles
Our gallery from Blackburn Rovers' 3-0 FA Youth Cup win over Manchester United at Ewood Park last night is now online. Click here to view all the action from the game.
RUSH hour traffic in Chorley came to a standstill yesterday morning after a major road collapsed. The A6 near the Hartwood roundabout, close to junction eight of the M61, was partially closed northbound as engineers assessed the damage. The road
Rugby clubs in Lancashire are joining together with Chorley’s Derian House Children’s Hospice in a partnership to raise money and seek sponsorship. The aim is to raise funds to provide care for terminally ill children across the county and support their
Running time: 101 mins. Toronto high school student Simon (Devon Bostick) is still haunted by the death of his parents in a car accident many years ago and the young man struggles to understand why the universe chose to take them from him.
Running time: 116 mins. Starring: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Bojana Novakovic, Jay O Sanders. Director: Martin Campbell. WARD-WINNING, meaty British television dramas are providing plentiful food for thought across the pond in
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Nealla Gordon, Rodney ‘Bear’ Jackson. Director: Lee Daniels. AN average of 60 children are sexually abused in Britain every single day. It’s a shocking
There’s not really anything like Flower, unless you can detect the style of Flow, also by the same developers. This download challenges gaming conventions, delivering simple gameplay, accessible controls and a medium to explore emotional chords
They usually say, ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’. But what do “they” know? Not much at all judging by the incredible job Revolution Software has done with the remastering of its 1996 gem of a game, Broken Sword. The game caused a huge stir when
This is no ordinary download game, seeking to redefine how we think of games as a form of entertainment in the same way that other benchmark titles such as BioShock and Portal did when they were released. It’s the complex concept of manipulating time
SO tonight’s the big night — it’s the Big Brother final. And eviction parties are being thrown in living rooms all over the country to mark the event. Like it or not this reality TV show is still as popular as ever and this year’s celebrity series has
MODERN-day freak show The Circus of Horrors has a brand new show, and it’s coming to Burnley on February 16. Following on the huge success of The Asylum, The Circus of Horrors has had a major revamp and is back rocking and shocking with The Day of
COMIC Lucy Porter is bringing her new stand-up show, Fools Gold, to Lancaster. The critically-acclaimed comedian talks about the history of the precious metal in the show. The show looks at those who love gold — rappers and Jimmy Saville mainly
MUST-see indie-rock band States of Emotion are heading to Blackburn. The Essex quartet will release debut single Fight them on the Beaches, which is free to download from their MySpace website, in March. They are looking to build on the success
AWARD-winning family drama My Mother Said I Never Should is coming to Lancaster. The modern classic, directed by Amy Leach, will enjoy its first professional revival in the North West since it premiered in Manchester in 1987. Moving seamlessly
FORMER Hollyoaks star Mikyla Dodd is set to bare all by becoming one of the famous Calendar Girls. The Blackburn-born actress will play Elaine, when she joins a national tour of the hit play later this year. The stage adaptation based
TWO of East Lancashire’s hottest musical acts have made it through the first round of the Live and Unsigned 2010 competition. Blackburn’s Jamie Gallagher and Barnoldswick band Tyro both sailed through the regional audition stage of the competition to
He's been the voice of children's TV characters for 10 years but now Bob Golding is taking on the role of his life as one of our favourite comedians. We spoke to the actor before the show makes its North West debut in Burnley, direct from the West
TEACHERS at Haslingden High School are offering an “excellent” education according to a government minister. The school has been recognised as the “ninth most improved school in the country” this week, giving staff and pupils something to shout about
LANCASHIRE law firm Napthens is to hand over more than £2,000 to the Rosemere Cancer Foundation. The firm, which has offices in Blackburn, Chorley, Blackpool and Preston, raised almost £600 over Christmas through a raffle. Staff donated £375 instead
AN accountant believes East Lancashire firms could still fall victim to the recession – even though Britain’s economy is now officially growing again. Paul Spencer, a director at Haworth’s Chartered Accountants in Eastgate, Accrington, urged businesses
HOSPITAL bosses have held an emergency meeting because of staff shortages at the mortuary at Burnley General. Management at the hospital held a meeting with police, undertakers and the coroner’s office to try and avert a crisis. They
A PARK and Ride scheme could be introduced to take fans to Turf Moor after complaints about parking on streets near the ground. Brunshaw residents told police at a recent meeting they were fed up of not being able to park outside their own homes on match
HUNDREDS attended a funeral service for a former Brierfield teenager who was stabbed to death beside a river in Reading. Asha Muneer’s parents Mohammad and Nasreen and three sisters led mourners in a service at the Berkshire town’s Rivermead Leisure
A BARRIER could be installed at a well-used car park in Brierfield to prevent rogue motorists sneaking on. Plans have been produced for the barrier at the community centre car park, off Beattie Street. Pendle Council’s Brierfield and Reedley committee
RUBY Turner, the chart-topping soul sister with attitude, is often described as a diva. So naturally you’d assume she would be the type to be surrounded by a dozen assistants and demand certain luxuries. But I was quite shocked when, a few minutes before
A man from Preston has lost his appeal against the UK’s first conviction for inciting racial hatred online. But the Court of Appeal in London reduced Stephen Whittle’s sentence of of two years and four months by six months. Another man, Simon Sheppard
RESIDENTS left stranded for three weeks by snow and ice could benefit from a better gritting service next year. Some people living in Briercliffe were unable to get out after steep side roads were not gritted by the county council during the
NICKY Weaver is ready to make the most of his second Premier League chance and challenge Brian Jensen for the number one spot. The former Manchester City and England under 21 stopper has been brought in on a free transfer until the summer as back-up
Chelsea captain John Terry has urged his team-mates to put more pressure on their Premier League title rivals with victory over Burnley tomorrow. The Chelsea defender celebrated his 300th career league game by leading the Blues to a 3-0 victory over
Rawtenstall beauty Kate Mayers won the Channel 4 show Come Dine With Me that was broadcast last week. The 28-year-old Valley resident was crowned the best dinner party host after serving a three-course meal of goats cheese tartlets, pan fried monkfish
BRIAN Laws is hoping Chris McCann will hand him a fitness boost this weekend. The midfielder limped off 12 minutes into his first Premier League game for four months after twisting his knee at Bolton Wanderers midweek, but the Burnley boss
Paul Mullin may miss a potential return to Accrington Stanley with Morecambe on February 6 with a knee injury. The former Stanley striker sustained the injury when Morecambe lost at home to his old club on Boxing Day and may still be two weeks from
Ramsbottom United will be hoping to jump from fourth to second in the Vodkat Premier Division with a home win against struggling Atherton LR. Padiham, currently 12th, travel to leaders Newcastle Town, while 13th-placed Nelson host second bottom Ashton
BURNLEY have confirmed the signing of Celtic left back Danny Fox for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old has agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Turf Moor and is the Clarets' third signing this week after Leon Cort and Nicky Weaver.
FORMER Burnley striker Phil Eastwood is due to make his first return to Rossendale United tomorrow since his time as the club’s manager was terminated by mutual consent at the end of last season. Eastwood was player-manager at Dark Lane last season but
BLACKBURN boss Sam Allardyce says there is no rush in sorting out Morten Gamst Pedersen’s long term future after revealing Rovers had received no official interest for the resurgent Norwegian midfielder. Pedersen is enjoying a new lease
Clitheroe travel to The Shay to face former Football League side FC Halifax Town. The West Yorkshire side lie in third place, five above the Blues.
BLACKBURN with Darwen council’s largest ever public transport survey is set to begin this weekend. The survey will be looking at who uses the buses, where they travel to and when, which communities and areas are well or poorly served, accessibility
I honestly thought we had drawn a veil over the whole issue of the burka. But then the French decide to give everyone an excuse to discuss the whole thing once again. I think there are a fair few people who are sick and tired of reading article after
IT was a single punch with terrible consequences. Adam Rogers died after banging his head on the pavement and suffering terrible brain injuries when he fell. His family and many friends left behind continue to struggle with their loss and intolerable
I have read with increasing concern the many comments by good Darwen people who are concerned by the possibility of perverts spying on them at the new leisure centre, because they can see through the windows. I had not considered Darwen to have a particular
I WAs disgusted at the decision made by Judge David Boulton to bail a violent teenage rapist, giving the rapist the opportunity to attack another innocent nine-year-old victim from Great Harwood. Two young innocent girls could have suffered irreversible
Perhaps Coun Alan Cottam could explain what would happen if we did, as he suggests, clear the pavements of snow ourselves. If anyone such as a postman slips and injures themselves, could we be sued? Can Mr Cottam confirm if he actually clears his
Now I know why the towns of Blackburn and Darwen have holes in the road and why they are making such a mess of the roads through Blackburn – closing off Penny Street, closing off Railway Road, etc. Alan Cottam is responsible for Blackburn with Darwen
BLACKBURN brewery Daniel Thwaites has launched a three-month campaign to celebrate the great British outdoors. And the firm is also launching a hunt of for a ‘golden’ bottle of Wainwright beer, which is worth £3,000 to whoever finds it.
PEOPLE are being warned to keep their dogs under control in the Rivington area after 25 sheep were killed in five weeks. Water company United Utilities owns and maintains the countryside estate, and has several tenant farmers whose sheep have fallen
Adam Rogers' family said yesterday's manslaughter verdict represented justice and spoke of their relief that their son’s good name had been preserved. And while they spoke of their deep personal grief, they also said they hoped his killer, who cannot
DAVID Dunn will miss tomorrow's Premier League game between Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United with a calf injury, while Lars Jacobsen and Vince Grella are both still absent. Chris Samba comes back into the squad for the trip to Upton
SHOCKED Shop Direct staff said they were “devastated” and “disappointed” by yesterday’s announcement that the company's Burnley operation is to close with the loss of 450 jobs. Staff at the Kingsway building were told to stop taking calls immediately
EX-Manchester United star Carlos Tevez says Manchester City’s new manager Roberto Mancini is the reason behind his impressive run of form. “He has set me free,” said the Argentinean. Meanwhile, City are closing in on a swoop for Middlesbrough
BLackburn Rovers Under 18s swept into the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals at Ewood Park last night with an impressive 3-0 win over Manchester United. Midfielder Jason Lowe scored a goal in each half, while central defender Grant Hanley was also
PASCAL Chimbonda insists ‘there is life after Benni McCarthy’ at Ewood Park, claiming Rovers still have the firepower to continue their rise up the Premier League table. The Blackburn Rovers’ full back has sympathised with McCarthy’s reasons for his
DEAN Bouzanis plays the last game of his current loan spell at Accrington Stanley tomorrow, but the goalkeeper says he is keen to stay for the rest of the season as he bids to earn a new deal at Liverpool. Bouzanis joined Stanley from Liverpool in late
MICHAEL Symes returns to his former club tomorrow aiming to shoot down the Shrews and maintain Accrington Stanley’s promotion push. But manager John Coleman is keeping his fingers crossed that his strike star will not be playing his last game for the
BRIAN Laws is hoping his new signings’ lessons from the school of hard knocks can influence Burnley’s survival bid. Both goalkeeper Nicky Weaver and defender Leon Cort have experienced life at the wrong end of the Premier League. Free
YOU may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks but Sam Allardyce has shown more than enough to suggest he is able to at least get their tails wagging again. Blackburn Rovers’ boss has prided himself on the ability of handing ‘past masters
DAVID Nugent’s immediate future has been thrown into limbo due to a breakdown in communications between Burnley and his parent club, Portsmouth. The Clarets exercised their right to extend the deal until the end of the season before Tuesday
