A DRUG dealer who almost mowed down two police officers and had a fake firearm in his car, has been jailed for five years. Ayaz Abdullah, 21, who also nearly smashed into a car with a baby in, was finally arrested after armed officers were
A CAR thief with 236 convictions has been jailed after leading police on a chase in a stolen high-performance sports car. Kevin Melody, 39, overtook a car and drove through a red light when he realised police were in pursuit, Burnley Crown
TWO people were taken to hospital following a crash in Barrow this morning. Firefighters used specialist equipment to cut free a driver and passenger from a Ford Focus car after it ended up on its side following an accident in Clitheroe Road, Barrow
A HOAX caller claimed four people were trapped inside a burning house in Burnley. Fifteen firefighters, police and paramedics rushed to the property in Queen's Park Road last night at around 8.30pm. A "sinister" caller who was coughing
BIKERS have been slammed for ruining footpaths on Darwen Moor, amid fears the damage will not be repaired. Signs clearly state cars and motorbike are forbidden on the land, which surrounds Darwen Tower, but walkers have reported several instances
FIREFIGHTERS tackled a lorry fire on the M65 this morning. Crews from Accrington attended the scene, on the westbound carriageway between junctions eight and seven, at 9.45am. The lorry, whose wheel had caught fire, had been moved to the hard
TWO drivers were injured in a road crash in Whitworth last night. A Honda Jazz and a Hyundai Accent collided at the junction of Market Street and Tong Lane at 9pm. The two drivers, both women, were taken to hospital but were not seriously
EVENTS taking place in Blackburn, Burnley, Darwen, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale for Monday, April 4 and the days ahead. What's on today 11am - Residents in the Daneshouse with Stoneyholme areas will be able to discuss
A PLASTICS firm has donated storage units to a primary school to solve their space problem. St John’s Primary School, in Read, contacted Padiham-based What More UK to solve a lack of space in their cloakroom. The firm has donated 90 storage units, in
BLACKBURN rubber seals manufacturer Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE) has handed £1,000 to a student as part of a graduate scheme. The grant, given to York University computing student Matt Bradshaw, 21, son of a staff member, will go towards tuition
CUMMINS Mellor Recruitment, of Whalley Road, Accrington, has hired Adam Pollard as a business development manager. Director Michelle Mellor said: “Adam will be concentrating on working with new and existing clients, understanding their requirements
TWO Rossendale companies worked together to exploit the power of Facebook. One Iota, based on the Link 665 Business Park near Haslingden, has launched a fully operational mobile shop on the social networking site for Bacup-based Wynsors World of Shoes
TAYLORS Solicitors, of Exchange Street, Blackburn, has appointed a new commercial property lawyer. Mark Niven joins from Manchester-based Brabners Chaffe Street LLP. Managing partner Elaine Hurn said: “Mark is a great addition to the team. “His
A BUSINESS which manufactures electric golf trolleys has been handed a funding boost before seasonal demand picks up. Barrowford-based Greenhill Technologies will use the extra £250,000 overdraft from Nat West to increase stock levels before the peak
A BID to create a new mooring on the Leeds Liverpool Canal along Burnley’s famous Straight Mile has sparked a row. John Hughes, of Accri-ngton-based High Brake Property Holdings, wants to fence off a portion of the canal from Lawn Street to Tennis Street
A WOULD-be councillor has switched his allegiance from Liberal Democrat to Labour after becoming ‘fed-up’ with his former party. Pervaz Afzal, who stood as a Lib Dem candidate in Brier-field last year, was expected to stand for the party again next month
SIX staff from a Ribble Valley hotel are celebrating after successfully completing a prestigious industry management training course. The employees at Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, have completed a City and Guilds accredited Welcome Host Gold training
A BURNLEY-based telepho-ne company has been given the funding to expand after a grant from the county council’s business solutions company. Denwa Communications Limited specialises in the installation and mainten-ance of business phone systems, including
LANCASHIRE child sex offenders living in the community can now have their convictions revealed to concerned parents. The much-anticipated national roll-out of the Child Sex Offender Disclosure (CSOD) scheme - sometimes referred to as
I was a bit shocked when I spotted my first grey hair. I saw it in the rear view mirror of my car, and at first thought it had come from my friend’s dog, a shaggy mongrel who left half his coat on your clothing after being petted. But when I tried to
Many will have trudged away from Turf Moor on Saturday evening thinking the dream of Premier League football next season had slipped away once and for all. But, amazingly, despite a wretched 2-1 defeat to Paul Jewell’s Ipswich Town side, we are still
The Lancashire Telegraph has launched its Pet Idol competition. If you have a much-loved pet that you think has the aaaah factor, visit Pets At Home on Nova Scotia Retail Park in Blackburn any day until Saturday, April 9 between 10am and 4pm.
HUNDREDS of Lancashire police officers are caught in a promotion backlog. Nationally, 9,000 officers have passed exams but cannot move upwards because of a lack of available positions as forces cut jobs. In Lancashire, 315 officers have completed
Yobs who dragged parked cars out into the road in Darwen are being hunted by police. Officers said there was a spate of late-night incidents and CCTV in the area has now been stepped up. The incidents are being treated as alcohol-fuelled
A PERSISTENT thief who was made subject to an anti-social behaviour order in Burnley in 2007 moved to Blackburn and carried on regardless. Blackburn magistrates heard that since he moved ‘over the border’ Lloyd McMillan had appeared in court 19 times
JACK Straw believes Saturday’s protests will damage the English Defence League – not community relations. The Blackburn MP also told of anger at the estimated £1million policing bill, which Malcolm Doherty, chairman of the Lancashire Police
A DARWEN man found guilty of killing his wife in France has lost his bid for parole. Robert Lund had asked the French court to be released ahead of a third trial early next year, but the request was turned down. The 57-year-old’s conviction for
A workman’s cabin, in the grounds of St Nicholas’ CE Primary School, in Dill Hall Lane, Church, was deliberately set alight at midnight on Saturday. Firefighters spent 45 minutes at the scene and said the wheels of the trailer were first set on fire
A YOUTHFUL Blackburn Rovers reserves side slipped to a 2-0 defeat to a strong Chelsea outfit this afternoon. First half goals from Gokhan Tore and Milan Lalkovic were enough to secure a fourth straight win from the hosts, despite a brave effort
ANDY Parsons is one of those comedians who has an air of unpredictability, a performer who is a master of the cynical barb. Listening to him lay into politicians and tin pot celebrities on Mock The Week is high on my list of TV pleasures. He’s
IT’S often said that Kylie’s longevity is due to her talent for “reinventing” herself. This basically means that every few years she gets a new producer and a new wardrobe. Her latest album, Aphrodite, is not so much reinvention as “if it ain’
LAST month was the driest March in almost four decades in East Lancashire. Total rainfall during the 31 days was just 21 millimetres, around a fifth of what would be expected. And forecasters said that the dry weather was set to continue
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former college principal who has died. Father Kevin O’Neill, who rose through the ranks as teacher, vice-principal and then principal of St Mary’s College, Blackburn, has been described as the ‘life and soul of
MARTIN Olsson insists Saturday’s heroic draw at Arsenal has to be the start of better things to come. Rovers’ energetic Swede believes the 0-0 draw at the Emirates has to be used as a turning point in their troubled season and insists it
English Defence League protesters and counter-demonstrators held rival events in Blackburn town centre. Watch our video clips, which were recorded and streamed live from mobile phones onto the Lancashire Telegraph website. Before the
A £1million amphetamine haul has been seized by police in a raid. Officers swooped on the home in Ashwood Avenue, Ramsbottom, and found 34kg of the drugs. A 33-year-old man, 30-year-old man and 27-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of possessing
RIBBLESDALE League outfit Salesbury have signed Sri Lanka all-rounder Susantha Pradeep as professional for the new season. The 30-year-old batsman and leg spinner has spent the past five years playing Grade A cricket in Australia and also represents
THE man who was pivotal in developing Burnley’s university centre is stepping down after more than 28 years. Deputy vice-chancellor Alan Roff has retired from the University of Central Lancashire but leaves Burnley with a lasting legacy.
THERE would have been an awful lot of Blackburn Rovers fans walking around with their heads a little higher on Saturday evening. They had just seen their side put another nail in Arsenal's Premier League title challenge with a battling
A YOUNG Blackburn Rovers reserve squad play against their Chelsea counterparts in London today. Gary Bowyer's side go in search of their fifth successive win, without any senior figures in the squad, kick off 12pm. ROVERS: Kean, Ramm
EDDIE Howe has urged his Burnley players to stay mentally strong to keep their play-off hopes alive. The Clarets’ top six ambitions were dealt another blow through Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich Town, their third loss in four
ACCRINGTON’S record-breaking wicketkeeper, Jack Collier, has died aged 82. Mr Collier, from the Springhill area, holds the record for most career victims by an Accrington wicketkeeper with 309 catches and 90 stumpings in a senior career that
NEW Mills completed the double over Bacup to remain 17 points clear at the top of Vodkat Premier Division. Brent Peters side gave the leaders a real fright as they led 1-0 at the break thanks to a Tommy Turner strike. However, New Mills, who won
STEVE Kean has described Blackburn Rovers central midfield trio as ‘pivotal’ to Saturday’s heroic point at Arsenal. The proud Rovers boss was full of praise for his entire squad after a brave goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium but believes
Carl Garner's reign as Clitheroe manager began with a 2-2 draw against Cheshire outfit Warrington Town. The visitors shot into a two-goal lead with Chris Thompson and Alan Collins doing the damage. But Clitheroe pulled a goal back on 29 minutes when
Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell was delighted with his side’s first half performance in the 2-1 victory at Burnley – but felt they could have done better after the break. Goals in the first period from skipper David Norris and striker Connor
NEW signing Shane Duffy admitted he was left with mixed emotions on his Burnley debut. The 19-year-old had been delighted to be selected to start ahead of experienced defenders Clarke Carlisle and Michael Duff after completing a loan move
OVER the years more and more houses have gardens and, with recent economic problems, there has been an increasing demand for allotments. Together they produce in excess of 20million spaces where, if care is taken, we can all live hand-in-hand with our
AGEING gas mains on the edge of Todmorden will be replaced as part of a £110,000 operation, which starts this week. An 800-metre stretch of Rochdale Road will be upgraded as part of the Northern Gas Networks scheme, which should be completed by May.
A SCHEME aimed at cracking down on people who claim incapacity benefit when fit for work is being rolled out today - months after being piloted in East Lancashire. People who claim the benefit will have to undergo tough new tests as part of the work
A clued-up Clarets fan’s knowledge on the club was not enough to see him through to the grand final of BBC One’s Mastermind quiz. Thomas Perry’s chosen specialist subject was the history of Burnley FC when he competed in the semi-final of the long-running
THIS is the man police are hunting in connection with a robbery in the Rossendale Valley earlier this year. Police want to speak to Anton George Daniels, 26, about a raid at business premises on Carrs Industrial Estate, Haslingden, on February 24.
THE people of Blackburn and surrounding areas need to be kept aware of the revised Pennine Reach Rapid Transport scheme, submitted to the Government in January. As a Blackburn resident who will be affected by the scheme, and further to my request to
THERE are some good jokes printed in this newspaper. Here’s another: They have put a 20mph speed limit in Highercroft, Blackburn. Does anyone heed the signs? Nope! Some do what looks like 50 up and down Manxman Road and Sunnybank. R BRYAN
AN arrest toll of just 12 tells its own story. With 2,000 EDL supporters packing Blackburn town centre, and another 500 opposition demonstrators nearby, the day had the potential to turn into an unmitigated disaster. The fact that it didn’t owes
I CAN endorse the observations of Jet, Rishton (LT, March 31) that an increasing number of dog owners are bagging it, but not binning it. Having spent some time picking up litter in the Stanhill and Brookside areas of Oswaldtwistle, I returned with
I agree wholeheartedly with Coun Salim Mulla that it’s not right to teach atheism to children as young as four. How dare these unseen dictators introduce such outrageous lessons? This country is struggling to educate our youngsters in the three Rs. Surely
A MIDDLE-aged man who was holding a £2,200 stash of cannabis for a commercial dealer has been jailed for 13 months. Burnley Crown Court heard how jobless Anthony Drabble, 40, was a long-time user of cannabis and had suffered anxiety and depression
A DARWEN man has died after being hit by a taxi in Bolton. Police were called to St Peter’s Way dual carriageway, close to its junction with Bradford Street, just after midnight on Saturday. Craig Higgs, 23, of Beaumont Way, Darwen,
THE ‘Year of the Lion’ will see a 12-month celebration of the North West's army regiment. It is now five years since the creation of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. And to mark the landmark, and also the fact that many of the battalions saw action
A woman burned her clothing after falling asleep with a lit cigarette in her hand. The woman, who is disabled and in her 60s, of Brother Street, Mill Hill, had to be carried to safety by Blackburn firefighters, and suffered minor burns to her abdomen
MORE than 150 people turned out to see Nalin Surie, the High Commissioner of India to the UK, visit a Blackburn community centre yesterday. Mr Surie took part in a question-and-answer session with members of Shear Brow Community Association, at Westbrook
THE ‘king’ of the Lancashire hotpot has backed a campaign to stop cooks from outside the county copying the world-famous dish. The proposal would see the Lancashire hotpot afforded ‘protected geographical indication’ (PGI) status. It
Blackburn Rovers press officer Paul Agnew is set to fly to India this week to meet the club’s owners. Agnew, linked with the vacant chairman’s job at Ewood Park, says he does not yet know what is on the agenda for his meeting with Venky’s hierarchy
VANDALS caused £300 damage to a taxi following a row in a supermarket car park. Police said four men were involved in a row on the Sainsbury’s car park, Moor Lane, Clitheroe, when a blue Toyota Avensis was damaged, on March 27, at around 3.20am. Sergeant
Fulham fans who dislike the club's statue of pop star Michael Jackson "should go and be Chelsea fans", according to the club's owner Mohammed Al Fayed. Sunderland's Steve Bruce will make a summer move for Swansea's highly rated midfielder Joe Allen
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DARWEN had to settle for a share of the spoils once again after drawing for the ninth time this season – the highest in Vodkat League Division One. Steve Lee had given Darwen a 17th minute lead but Eccleshall levelled on the half hour mark
Looking for ideas to entertain the kids, big and small this half term? From 9.30am on Friday, April 15, home furnishing experts at IKEA Warrington at 910 Europa Boulevard are inviting readers to roll up their sleeves and join in with lots of fun
RAMSBOTTOM are up to second place in the Vodkat Premier League after a 4-1 thumping of bottom of the table Ashton. Three goals in the space of nine minutes either side of half time sealed victory for the in-form Rams. Struggling Ashton
HAVING put up a brave fight against leaders New Mills following a four match unbeaten run, Colne were brought crashing back to earth at Maine Road. Despite Danny Boyle cancelling out Declan O’Shea’s second minute strike for the hosts, Colne
PADIHAM added another scalp to their fast growing list when they beat Congelton Town at the Arbories. Paul Fildes made it 24 goals for the season when he tucked away a 16th minute penalty, given for hand ball, to ensure the Storks led at half
BARNOLDSWICK returned to winning ways with a morale-boosting win at lowly Formby. Following successive defeats to Maine Road and Padiham, Town stopped the mini slump thanks to second half goals from debutant Ben Mousley and Liam Garbutt.
Chorley’s promotion drive was given a jolt as struggling Harrogate Railway completed an unlikely double over the Magpies. Garry Flitcroft’s side could easily have been a couple of goals ahead at half-time but Harrogate, in turn, might well
Bacup fast bowler Joe McLuskie claimed a memorable debut First Class wicket on Saturday when playing for Cambridge University against Essex. McLuskie bowled England ace Ravi Bopara for just 14.
LANCASHIRE'S biggest-ever policing operation has been hailed a huge success after a mass demonstration by the English Defence League passed without major incident. Around 2,000 EDL supporters descended on Blackburn from around the country
EAST Lancashire is a hotbed for shocking incidents of road rage against funeral processions. More than half of motorists have seen incidents against processions, including rude hand gestures, verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, drivers cutting in,
Former Accrington Stanley midfielder Rommy Boco has joined Chinese second tier side Shanghai East Asia after leaving Sligo in Ireland.
JOHN Coleman says the next few days are the biggest of his football career as he bids to repeat the remarkable rise to promotion that kick-started his tenure as Stanley boss 12 years ago. The Reds host Southend tomorrow and travel to Macclesfield
