The Conservative Party comfortably held its seat in a by-election for Blackburn with Darwen Council today. Julie Daley polled 1,097 votes with Labour challenger Ashley Whalley at 572. The Liberal Democrat candidate, former councillor Salim Lorgat
CELEBRITY chef Paul Heathcote has been forced to close his Clitheroe restaurant after it became a 'continuous drain'. Heathcotes Grill and Bar in the Ribble Valley town was closed just nine months after the venue was relaunched. The
A BOYFRIEND who claimed he strangled his lover during a sex game that went wrong left her body in the bedroom for 24 hours, a court heard. But in a prison cell former army cadet Daniel Lancaster is said to have told two inmates he deliberately
A PART-TIME helper for disabled and homeless adults has today been jailed for rape. Simon Theaker, 44, of Windsor Road, Great Harwood, was given a total of 10 years imprisonment at Preston Crown Court for seven historic sex offences including rape,
A BABY who has overcome numerous medical odds could be back home with his family by Christmas. Oswaldtwistle tot Carson Hartley was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, known as blue baby syndrome or ToF, a hole in his heart and unformed arteries
A MAJOR conference promoting victims’ rights and greater judicial accountability is being held tonight by the parents of a Lancashire murder victim. Keynote speakers from across the criminal justice system will gather to debate a range of issues
A STRANGE but interesting documentary, this. When I was at school, there was absolutely no chance of anyone coming out as being gay for the obvious fear of unpleasant reprisals. They were right to be scared, too, in those less-enlightened times. Have
WATCHING on old re-run of Stephen K Amos and Frankie Boyle on Live At The Apollo re-kindled my enthusiasm for comedy. Rob Brydon is very funny, but I’m not entirely convinced by this chat show. Why are stand-up comedians always given talk shows
124 mins. Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Dominic Cooper, Toby Jones, Stanley Tucci, Natalie Dormer, Richard Armitage. Director: Joe Johnston. Recalling the cliffhanger TV series of the 1950s, Captain
ANYTHING above a whisper is usually frowned upon, but next month rock band Savant will be ignoring the “quiet please” notices and causing a ruckus at Leigh Library on August 13. The four-piece, made up of Paul Keaveny, Steve May, Chris May
THE weekend saw Manchester’s first Double Scoop Sundae Festival. The event, run by American ice cream-making pseudo-hippy types Ben and Jerry’s has been entertaining crowds in London for the past seven years. This year they decided to recreate
THE shock news this week has been the announcement that the long-running Lancashire Road Club 12-hour time trial, due to be held this Sunday, has been cancelled. Not since the first promotion of this famous event in 1924, excepting the World
The University of Central Lancashire has been awarded £101,000 to encourage 1,000 extra students to take part in sport. University has been identified as when lots of people drop out of sport so the Sport England funding is part of a new initiative
SHARES in BAE Systems, the biggest private employer in East Lancashire, rose yesterday as the company signalled it would weather government spending cuts impacting the sector. The defence and security giant, which employs around 4,500 people
WHY DON’T YOU COME FOR ME?, Diane Janes, £7.99. WINDERMERE author Diane Janes has already proved she is an adept psychological thriller writer — her first novel The Pull of the Moon got her into the finals of the prestigious CWA John Creasey
EAST Lancashire engineer David Taylor will see his beloved VW Beetle return to racing action next month at a special event at Mallory Park. The motor sport enthusiast from Edgworth spent 18 months rebuilding the classic car before its comeback
THERE have been mixed reactions to the sale of Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears – some of them kneejerk. I heard a few Burnley fans even talked about throwing away their season tickets for a campaign that is still over a week away from starting
THIRTY-two wraps of heroin and crack were seized from a suspected drug dealer. Police stopped a 24-year-old driving a silver Fiat Punto in Tanpits Road, Church, when they discovered the drugs, worth £320. He was arrested on suspicion of possession
THE leader of the Church of England in East Lancashire has chosen food-aid projects in Guatemala and Uganda as the beneficiaries for his harvest appeal. Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Rev Nicholas Reade is hoping to better the £28,347 raised last year
ACCRINGTON Stanley have decided to sign goalkeeper Sean Murdoch and defender Kern Miller. Murdoch, a 24-year-old Scottish keeper from Hamilton Academical, joins on a one-year deal. John Coleman was impressed with Murdoch’s performances in
THE first Hurst Green Five Mile Trail Race is being hailed as such a success that we have been promised another, possibly in December. Organised by Chris Barnes of Accrington Road Runners, it attracted close to 200 athletes, including quality runners
There aren’t too many athletes around who can run a marathon in three hours and three minutes – but imagine doing it straight after cycling 112 miles and that after starting the day with a 2.4 mile long open water swim. That is exactly what Matt Nuttall
VINCE Grella’s Blackburn Rovers career has so far been more like something out of a scene from Casualty than any ‘Roy of the Rovers’ scripts he may have been dreaming of when he came to the Premier League in August 2008. You can understand
A HUGE cake, weighing 30lb, was baked to celebrate the opening of the New Prince’s Cinema, in Accrington, back in 1965. A party was staged at the Railway Hotel and, at the end of the night, the cake was donated to the children’s ward at the Victoria
HISTORIAN Barbara Riding tells the story of a Blackburn pilot killed in the First World War. One name on the roll of honour at Blackburn Town Hall is that of Thomas Coupe, who was killed while serving in the Royal Flying Corps during the 1914-18 conflict
OCTOGENARIAN Jim Ashton recalled the days when the village of Huncoat was surrounded by farms, many of which have now disappeared. Jim was just 14 when he went to live there in 1941, during the Second World war. “I had the pleasure of living in
MALCOLM Mawdsley was rushed to hospital at the weekend after an accident in the Coracle Stages rally. The former Blackburn businessman was competing in the mid-Wales event alongside Jonathan Turnbull in the 2WD Impreza but drifted wide into
Midfielder David Dunn believes Blackburn Rovers have the potential to be a top-10 side this season, provided manager Steve Kean can add the new faces he needs. Rovers lost 1-0 to Premier League rivals Aston Villa in the Barclays Asia Trophy yesterday
THE other day historian Jack Nadin came across an old postcard depicting a little piece of Padiham history – it showed ‘Owd Mary Monk’s Cottage, Padiham’. The postcard was dated 1902 and Jack was intrigued. Who was Owd Mary Monk, and where was her
A WARNING has gone out to laptop users after a woman burned her leg when her computer caught fire. Firefighters were called to a house in Bluebell Way, Huncoat, at 11.10am yesterday where they extinguished the machine, which had been resting
HUNDREDS of residents were left scratching their heads after receiving pink recycling sacks – branded by Southend-on-Sea Council. The sacks were delivered by Burnley-based Pendle Skips, along with a leaflet asking people to fill them with unwanted
FATHER and daughter Steve and Hazel Johnson both represented the Association of North West Car Clubs in the Fern Furnishing Autotest on Sunday. Nineteen-year-old Hazel, from Accrington, was competing in her first MSA British Autotest Championship
JACK STRAW has secured a parliamentary debate on his calls for a reform of the motor insurance industry. The Blackburn MP and former justice secretary said laws must be changed to combat fears that insurers are getting paid for referring clients
CHILDREN’S homes in Padiham and Colne are set to close as part of a shake-up of residential care across Lancashire. Social services chiefs are looking to reduce the number of children in residential care from around 90 to 66 over the next two
THE new Lancashire Cluster wants to achieve nearly £220million of NHS cuts in Lancashire in the next four years. The cluster, made up of the region’s five primary care trusts including Blackburn with Darwen and NHS East Lancashire, is reviewing spending
Reality check: Several days ago, a true British hero was killed fighting for our country. Do you know his name? Do you care? A singer addicted to drugs dies and it all over the news. RIP, Corporal Mark Anthony Palin from 1st Battalion the
A pensioner suggested there is no point in saving if you are then penalised by means tests and have to pay nursing home bills if you have more than £23,000 (LT, July 22). I’ve told my parents to enjoy blowing every last penny of our inheritance and
I am writing following Coun Konrad Tapp’s letter about travellers in the Meadowhead area showing no respect for locals (LT, July 26). I have to say that they reap what they sow. They can protest about being discriminated against all they like,
ALL MPs deserve first class rail bills. LibDem MP Gordon Birtwistle (pictured) works very hard for Burnley and Pendle whilst also travelling to London, always bringing the community first. So let’s have some faith with all our MPs who work
GOVERNMENT politicians insist they want to see more police on the streets, not fewer. But cynics (or realists, depending on your view) will say that with the budget cuts forces are being compelled to make, it’s highly unlikely the present situation
BURNLEY striker Alex MacDonald has been called up to the Scotland Under 21s squad for their home friendly with Norway next month. The 21-year-old has been named in the 20-man squad for the Vauxhall U21 International Challenge match at St Mirren Park
KARL Billington endured a baptism of fire – almost literally – but emerged with great credit from his Great Britain debut at the Euro-pean Junior Championships at Tallinn in Estonia. The 19-year old finished a gutsy ninth in a dramatic 10,000
AN appeal has launched to unearth the history of Hapton – from the infancy of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to the arrival of the collieries, chemical works and a world-renowned electrical contractors. Parish Coun Joan Lakeland is discussing
A BLACKBURN defence firm is to shed almost 10per cent of its workforce in a cost-cutting measure. Cobham Defence Communications said the majority of the 19 redundancies will come from its manufacturing side. The company makes communication
BLACKBURN Rovers stars showed they aren’t chicken when it comes to promoting the restaurants of bosses Venky’s. A new 25-second advert has been produced showing first-teamers, including Ryan Nelsen, Paul Robinson, David Dunn and Morten Gamst Pedersen
A GATEWAY to key Blackburn and Darwen industrial sites is set to be boosted by bridge widening works. The scheme will see improvements in Greenbank Terrace to the north of the M65 where it crosses Davy Field Brook. For five years, Blackburn
THE manager of Nelson's main post office is demanding compensation after it was hit by a flash flood. Anayat Vally, who owns the franchise for the post office in the former Woolworths store in Place de Creil, Nelson, said the building had suffered
A BACUP man has been found dead in his home. Daniel Jones, 39, of Blackthorn Lane, was found by a friend shortly after 3pm on July 20. Police attended the scene and initially arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of being concerned in the supply
FALSE rumours that the deputy leader of Rossendale Council has been caught drink-driving have been slammed. Whitworth councillor Sean Serridge said he was the victim of a ‘witch hunt’ after speculation in the Valley. Police have confirmed
NO fewer than 77 community groups in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale could be forced to find a new home unless they can afford to take over the running of their bases. Earlier this year county council bosses confirmed they would withdraw their
A POWER cut has led to a Blackburn supermarket and 300 other premises closing this morning. Shoppers have been turned away from Asda at Grimshaw Park, Blackburn. And Electricty North West said many other properties in the Darwen Street
THE life story of the only Clarets captain to lift the FA Cup, has been captured in a new book. Tommy Boyle received the trophy from King George V at Crystal Palace after a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in 1914. And even after suffering
REHABILITATION units in Rossendale and Pendle are set to close in September. East Lancashire Primary Care Trust has announced that the rehabilitation day centres based at the Health Hub, in Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, and Pendle Community Hospital, in
PLAYING ‘chicken’ with trains and throwing objects on to the line were among almost 250 crimes on railways in Lancashire during the past year. British Transport Police today warned trespassers they were putting their lives on the line.
ACCRINGTON Stanley are set to decide the future of a number of their trialists today – as they also look to move into the loan market. The Reds have had a whole host of players on trial during pre-season, with 10 still with the squad for Tuesday
Chorley’s Andrew Palmer has progressed to the last 32 of the English Amateur Championships. The Lancashire player beat Kedleston Park’s George Thacker by one hole in the first round of the matchplay stage.
Blackburn Rovers may be forced to look elsewhere in their attempts to replace Phil Jones. Monaco defender Cedric Mongongu is facing a race against time to get a French passport. The Congolese defender has played all his career in France
A TRAIL-BLAZING scheme to slow down motorists has been launched by a community armed with their own speed gun. A 20mph ‘home zone’, the first of its kind in the area, has been set up in the Infirmary neighbourhood of Blackburn, giving pedestrians
DARWEN Vale High School’s headteacher is likely to remain suspended on full pay at least until the beginning of the new school year. Hilary Torpey is still under investigation over allegations that she failed to provide support to staff when
A ROW over the washing up led to a man being arrested for a domestic assault. Police were called to a house in Rossall Terrace, Highercroft, Blackburn. A dispute had started over the washing up not being done. It escalated into a 25-year-old
Blackburn Rovers defender Gavin Gunning is on trial at League One side Scunthorpe United. Gunning has also been a target for Aberdeen and Motherwell, where he spent last season on loan. He captained the Rovers reserves side which won the Lancashire
ACCRINGTON’S Nikki Foster insists she will try to savour the occasion as she prepares for her first round at the Ricoh Women’s British Open in Scotland today. The 19-year-old Pleasington star is one of six amateurs in the 148-strong field at
A CANCER survivor has completed an epic 4,400-mile charity cycle ride around Britain’s coastline. But Clitheroe estate agent Bill Honeywell has vowed that he won’t shave off the beard he grew while pedalling until he reaches his £20,000 fundraising
BURNLEY manager Eddie Howe has pulled the shutters down on any more Turf Moor exits this summer, and has revealed he wants his next signing to be a permanent one. Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears were set to complete a joint £3million-plus move to Bolton
A ‘respectable’ 62-year-old Oswaldtwistle man had a ‘nasty secret’ – he had sexually abused two girls, a jury heard. Raymond Duxbury is said to have repeatedly committed sex acts on one of the alleged victims and to have groped the other in one incident
A COUPLE returning to their pub after a holiday were flabbergasted to find cheeky customers had indulged in a ‘spot’ of exterior design – painting the walls entirely purple and pink. Stephen and Denise Potter, who run the Potters Arms on Brooke
NIKOLA Kalinic’s Blackburn Rovers future was left stuck in limbo last night – as Steve Kean looked set to make his first significant signing of the summer. Rovers’ frustrated striker has returned home to Croatia as Venky’s and Ukraine outfit Dnipro
THE number of shoppers visiting the Mall shopping centre in Blackburn has risen 11 per cent a year after a £66million expansion was completed. Bosses said footfall was up by around 70,000 people per week on average throughout the past year.
SOLDIERS returning to East Lancashire from conflicts like Afghanistan could be given a home under a unique scheme. Campaigners are in talks with housing chiefs to establish ‘halfway houses’ in Burnley and Pendle for ex-services personnel.
A WOMAN has told a court how her boyfriend set her on fire when she refused to get him a cigarette. Belinda Fay was left with horrific injuries and permanent scars after Christopher Smalley twice poured lighter fluid on her jumper and put a lighter
