THE owner of a Blackburn shisha cafe has been fined for allowing smoking to take place inside the premises. Mustaffa Sidik, 40, who ran the cafe in Harrison Street pleaded guilty to the offences but did not appear at Blackburn Magistrates Court
A BLACKBURN car dealer was fined £3,000 after pleading guilty to selling faulty cars. Kashif Mohammed, 33, who was company director of Motor Nation garage at Perseverance Mill in Canterbury Street, initially faced a total of 31 allegations after
Blackpool have performed a U-turn in appointing a new manager after deciding against employing ex-Claret Brian Flynn. The Seasiders have been without a permanent boss since Paul Ince’s sacking in January and the former Wrexham boss was set to take
A SIX-year-old girl, who received a donated kidney from her grandma, has undergone her 39th operation which could allow her to swim for the first time. Brave youngster Ella Chadwick received a kidney from her 59-year-old grandma Christina Chadwick
1914 Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914, after the army of Kaiser Willhelm invaded Belgium. War had been looming ever since the assassination of the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Archduke Ferdinand six weeks earlier
BINS in Witton Wood are overflowing with rubbish, and dog walkers say that they haven’t been emptied for more than two weeks. Residents said they have been complaining to Blackburn with Darwen council about the state of litter in the wood over
A GREAT Harwood man has been honoured for his work in the community. Alan Whalley was given the Ruby Award in a spec-ial presentation, held at the council’s mayor-making ceremony, ‘in recognition of his outstanding service to the community’.
A COUNCILLOR has slammed road sweepers who leave dirt from their vans in a road, causing drains to become blocked. Coun Paul Browne said he had watched Blackburn with Darwen Council workmen using a tap in Frederick Street to clean their trucks
THE boss of flagship Blackburn wallpaper manufacturer Graham and Brown has warned Business Secretary Vince Cable that government support for exporters is ‘slow and uncompetitive’. Andrew Graham has demanded a change of gear and sent him a six-point
SOLICITOR Danial Hayes overcame a fear of flying to raise more than £500 by doing an 11,000ft skydive. Mr Hayes, who works from Curtis Law Solicitors in Blackburn, jumped out of a plane for the Help For Heroes charity at the weekend. A spokesman
YOUNGSTERS enjoyed a day of music and fun at Blackburn Youth Zone. Right, Cole Baron, 12, shows off his free running skills and agility, while, below, Michael Maynard tried out some beat boxing while youth music worker Cheryl Rothwell played the ukelele
CROWN Paints is poised to invest up to £500,000 in a new polymer plant at its Darwen factory saving 18 jobs and raising hopes for new ones. Two grant bids of £37,000 each for council and government cash are due to be decided today. Paper work
WORK on a new supermarket, which will create 70 full-time jobs, is ‘on track’ for opening. The Booths store, which is being built in Barrowford, is set to open at the end of November. Plans from the upmarket food retailer were first unveiled
MEMORIAL gardens in a Ribble Valley village could be set for a make-over after becoming overgrown. Mellor War Memorial Gardens were created in the 1920s to mark the sacrifice of the men from the parish who lost their lives during the First World
WORK has started on construction for Whalley Community Hydro. Civil engineering contractors are setting up the site in preparation for excavation of the channel beside the weir at Whalley which will take water from the river above the weir and
CLITHEROE youngster Tommi Meadows had a rally of highs and lows at the Dale Stages in Pembrokeshire – but still came away with his result of the year. The 14-year-old finished eighth overall in the Pembrokeshire-based event his his self-prepared Nissan
MORE than £10,000 is to be handed out to community groups in Rossendale as ‘compensation’ for major sewer works that have caus- ed disruption to residents, commuters, and traders. Several groups have alr-eady had confirmation that they will receive
A STALWART Pendle councillor has thanked residents for their support after illness forced him to resign. Coun John David, the Liberal Democrat member for Old Laund Booth since 1986, said he felt ‘unable to continue’ in his role because of a serious
LIFE’S a beach for most footballers at this time of the year as they kick back after a long, hard season – albeit a rewarding one for Burnley. But for some of the staff left behind, life’s a pitch. The fruits of the squad’s labours are over for another
A LATE-night dispute over the use of a bus pass ended with the bus driver being punched in the face. Blackburn magistrates heard his assailant, Kenneth Fo, had learning difficulties and had reacted badly, partly as a result of him drinking three
NO FURTHER action will be taken against three men arrested as part of an investigation into child sexual exploitation. Two men and a 16-year-old boy were arrested in Burnley last August in connection with the alleged grooming of a 15-year-old girl
Three-quarters of Britain’s electors took part in the 1979 General Election, when Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister. A month later, less than a third here bothered to vote in the first-ever direct elections for the “European Parliament”.
STAFF at a specialist school ‘expertly tackle’ any barriers their pupils might face, Ofsted inspectors have found. The findings come after the organisation rated Holly Grove School, in Burnley, ‘outstanding’. Inspectors found the Barden Lane
BLACKBURN Labour Party has been officially twinned with Rossendale and Darwen in a bid to oust Tory MP Jake Berry next year. National bosses have asked it to send workers into the neighbouring marginal seat in the run up to the general election
CANCER battler Sam Shaw has had his central line removed and has recovered from the procedure, his mum Christine said. The five-year-old from Hoddlesden was recently given the ‘all-clear’ following a 16-month fight against neuroblastoma. As
A NURSERY which was found inadequate after a child was found choking on the premises is improving. Ofsted inspectors found Kings Nursery in Blackburn was no longer inadequate but say it still requires improvement. The nursery in the centre
TEAMS from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Burnley Council, Calico, Ribble Rivers Trust, Pennine Lancashire Community Farm and local residents come together to 'Spruce up' the area around the Community Farm, March street, Burnley. The community
LIFE’S a beach for most footballers at this time of the year as they kick back after a long, hard season – albeit a rewarding one for Burnley. But for some of the staff left behind, life’s a pitch. The fruits of the squad’s labours are over for
THE investigation into an alleged assault in Clitheroe involving former Manchester United manager David Moyes ‘is likely to take some time’ according to police. Mr Moyes, 51, was allegedly involved in an assault last week outside The Emporium in
STAFF at Burnley housing group Calico have raised £208 for the Alzheimer’s Society. The money was collected by the organisation’s independent living team during Dementia Awareness Week. Workers also donated items including cordial, shampoo
BLACKBURN ironman Brian Fogarty could join the professional ranks, just 12 months since he won his first amateur triathlon title. Fogarty, who could not swim a couple of years ago, has already scooped up four titles this year – The 2014 National Duathlon
"HE has been revitalised,” was how the manager of the Norwegian national team put it this week. In the international wilderness for the final two years of his time at Rovers, Morten Gamst Pedersen is enjoying a new lease of life. Still only
New Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is ready to make his former Southampton captain Adam Lallana, 26, his first signing at White Hart Lane. Chelsea want Real Madrid’s French defender Raphael Varane, 21, to fill the hole left in the squad by
THE controversial One Connect Partnership between Lancashire County Council and BT will be finally legally disbanded next week. The local authority’s Cabinet will formally agree new arrangements to replace the deal which sparked a police investigation
PRODUCTION of the new Toyota Aygo is now under way and it will reach our roads in a few weeks. The manufacturing plant is currently producing around 300 vehicles a day, that’s one every 55 seconds, but in June will be working at full capacity, with
SABDEN Bowling Club has donated £650 to Pendleside Hospice. For the fifth year running, the club recently welcomed teams from the area to play in an open doubles competition over two days. The club, which has been open since 1991 and currently
A PENDLE school has maintained its good rating after an interim inspection by Ofsted. The education watchdog visited Higham St John’s CE Primary School in March and assessed pupils’ attainment and progress. In a letter to parents earlier this month
SKODA is celebrating 40 years of performance motoring. The Skoda RS story began in 1974 with the Skoda 180 RS and 200 RS racing cars. The legendary Skoda 130 RS in the 1970s and 1980s was one of the most successful sports cars of its time, while
VOLVO is to unveil its all-new XC90 from the inside out — disclosing the many interior features of the car first, and ending in the full external reveal in August. The new interior is the most luxurious designed for a Volvo, and features a tablet-like
THE award-winning Ramsons restaurant, in Ramsbottom, has re-opened as the newly-refurbished Venetian House, ushering in a new era of fine Italian dining. The eatery, at 18 Market Street, has been launched under the mentorship of Ramsons owner Chris
A FOLK and rock night raised more than £900 for Rossendale Hospice. The event, hosted by Rawtenstall’s Spring Terrace Folk Club, and held at Haslingden St Mary’s Football Club, raised £932 in total. A spokeswoman for the hospice said: “Thanks
A POSTBOX which was recently removed from Higherford is to be replaced. Royal Mail confirmed it would replace the postbox, in Gisburn Road, after pressure from Barrowford councillor Tony Beckett and Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson. The old box
A POLICE officer patrolling saw a man on the floor being punched and kicked by another male. Blackburn magistrates heard Luke Stephen Bentham ran off but was arrested in a nearby alley in Great Harwood. But the ‘victim’ also left the scene
AN animal charity has scaled back its plans for expansion. The Horse and Ponies Protection Association, in Shores Hey Farm, off Halifax Road, Briercliffe, was given planning permission to extend its indoor arena in February. The centre was
OLDER people in Lancashire are being to make sure they are claiming the correct pension. Age UK Lancashire is offering special help and advice with benefits for pensioners in the area. The organisation believes many elderly people in the area
A SURVEY has revealed 45 is the ‘happiest’ age for people in Lancashire. The happiness study, carried out by a new dating service called, Love Begins At, is based on psychologist Carl Jung’s elements for happiness. It showed that 63 per cent
A FORMER cotton weavers’ mill in the Duke Bar area of Burnley is to have its security wiring upgraded because of thefts. JF Securities Ltd has applied to repair old security features at the grade two listed Stanley Mill in Shackleton Street, which
AN amateur football club from Pendle is set to benefit from a county council grant. Barnoldswick Town United, which was formed in 2012, will receive £131.94 from County Coun David Whipp. Coun Whipp, for West Craven, considered and approved
FOUR members of Clarets’ staff will take part in the Football League’s London to Amsterdam Challenge next month. The club’s head of catering, Chris Gibson, events sales manager, Chris Emmerson, and commercial operations manager, Carl Sanderson,
THE Bishop of Burnley John Goddard’s retirement will be marked by a farewell service in July. He wants as many Lancashire Anglicans as possible to come to the 11am special Eucharist on July 19 at Blackburn Cathedral.There is no need to book or
BURNLEY Council has been given the go-ahead to make a raft of improvements to the Leeds Liverpool Canal. An earth retention system and a new canal wall will be built along a 95-metre stretch of the waterway’s south bank near Sandygate. The
RESIDENTS in Clayton-le-Moors will get the chance to discuss local crime with members of the town’s policing team on Monday. A Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting will be held at the library, in Pickup Street, from 10am to 11am.
THE Darwen Community Furniture Project has appealed for more furniture, especially beds and wardrobes. Bosses at the charity said it was running low on stocks but that there was a greater need than ever for donations. Anyone wishing to donate
BRITISH Cycling has again teamed up with Blackburn with Darwen Council’s CONNECT project to organise family bike rides this summer. The CONNECT scheme aims to encourage people to use more sustainable transport including cycling, walking, public
AGE UK will hold a volunteering information stand at Darwen Market on Friday June 6, from 9am to 1pm. Information will also be available on the full range of services the charity provides. Volunteer co-ordinator Linda Guise said the event would
PLACES are still available on the Prince’s Trust programme in Haslingden. Graham Jones, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, is encouraging youngsters to find out more. The Trust supports 13 to 30-year-olds who are unemployed and those who are struggling
BURNLEY Council has approved an amendment to a cycle path near Burnley Bridge Business Park. The proposed path, which was initially approved in March as part of wider redevelopments, will link the business park with the existing greenway in Padiham
THE mayor of Darwen Town Council has paid tribute to unpaid volunteers who made this year’s Darwen Live music festival the ‘best yet’. Coun Trevor Maxfield, one of the main organisers of the event, said if it wasn’t for volunteers the event would
AN ARTIST visited students at the town’s St Mary’s College to show her work and techniques to AS and A-Level students Pat Southern-Pearce, from Blackburn, spoke about her own pieces, the work she has done with primary children and how as a group they
THE East Lancashire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale’s (Camra) next meeting will be in Haslingden next Tuesday. Members will meet at the Griffin Inn, Hud Rake, with the meeting getting under way at 7.45pm. Anyone wishing to discuss issues
VETERAN seamer Steve Meehan has been appointed as the new captain of Padiham second team. Meehan replaces Gary Pethard who has stood down due to work commitments.
NORTH West residents are among the most accepting of other races, new research suggests. Social research group NatCen said 71 per cent of people it surveyed in the region denied being racially prejudiced, while 29 per cent admitted being ‘very’
AN indoor car boot sale will be held on Sunday, from 10am, at the Free Gardeners Club, in Parker Street, Rishton. Pitches cost £5. For more information, call Laura on 07984154412.
A HAIR salon in Rishton has celebrated one year in business. Laura Lou Styles, next to Terry’s Barbers, in Walmsley Street, had its anniversary in May. Owner Laura Hoyle, who works with apprentice Georgina Pye, said: “I would like to thank all my customers
ENFIELD Road, in Huncoat, will be closed this weekend. Network Rail will be inspecting the level crossing, looking for corrosion. Work will take place between 11.30pm on Saturday and 8am on Sunday.
A SECTION of Curlew Close, in Oswaldtwistle, will be dug up tomorrow to allow water works to be carried out. A damaged stop tap frame and cover will be replaced by United Utilities engineers. Traffic will be affected until work is completed
RESIDENTS in Clayton-le-Moors will get the chance to discuss local crime with members of the town’s policing team on Monday. A Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting will be held at the library, in Pickup Street, from 10am to 11am.
THE mayor of Darwen Town Council has paid tribute to unpaid volunteers who made this year’s Darwen Live music festival the ‘best yet’. Coun Trevor Maxfield, one of the main organisers of the event, said if it wasn’t for volunteers the event would
A CRAFT group meets every Thursday at The Barlow Institute in Bolton Road, Edgworth, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
ORGANISERS of Darwen Live music festival have thanked the public for another successful event on Sunday and Monday. Through the festival’s page on social networking site Twitter @Darwen_Live, they said: “Woohoo, we did it. Thank you people of Darwen
JIMMY Cricket will be the headline act at next Wednesday’s afternoon variety show at Darwen Library Theatre in Knott Street. Musicians Claire Louise and Bob Lawrence will complete the line-up with compere as always Glen South. The show starts
A SURVEY has revealed that 45 is the ‘happiest’ age for people living in Lancashire. The happiness study was carried out by a new dating service called, Love Begins At.
TAYUB Parvez, 23, of Pendle Street, Accrington, was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report after pleading guilty at Blackburn magistrates to driving while disqualified and without insurance and failing to stop when required by
A WARRANT backed with bail was issued for the arrest of Ian Marsden, 49, of St Michael’s Close, Blackburn, when he failed to appear before Blackburn magistrates to answer a charge of stealing groceries worth £83 from Morrisons.
JAMES Lee, 47, of Whalley Banks, Blackburn, was fined £35 by magistrates after pleading guilty to being drunk and disorderly
TEMPERATURES are set to rise this weekend in time for a bumper few days of activities across East Lancashire. The mercury will reach 17C on Saturday after a wash-out over the Bank Holiday weekend. The rain clouds are set to disappear and be
A WARRANT was issued for the arrest of David Woodward, 50, of no fixed address, when he failed to appear before Blackburn magistrates to answer a charge of breaching a non-molestation order in favour of his mother.
ANDREW George Grove, 59, of Rockliffe Avenue, Bacup, was remanded on bail by Blackburn magistrates charged with driving an HGV tractor unit on Bridge Street, Accrington, having consumed excess alcohol.
Accrington Academy is hosting the cheer and dance academy at the Queens Road West school from 4.30pm most evenings. Call 01254 304300 for more information.
THE Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s anniversary teas will take place on June 15 at Dunsop Bridge Village hall will host the event from 11am to 4pm.
BUSY Bees baby and toddler group meets in St Margaret’s church in Hapton on Thursdays from 9.15am to 11am. The club gives mums and dads a chance to meet other local parents and for babies and toddlers to play together.
THE Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show will be staged in Clitheroe tomorrow. BBC 6 Music presenter and Coronation Street actor will bring his popular show to The Grand, in York Street, from 7pm. Call 01200 421599 for details.
STYDD Gardens will host ‘An Afternoon With Carl Wilde’ next month. The Stoneygate Lane centre in Ribchester will stage the talk on Tuesday, June 24, from 2pm to 5pm. The celebrated floral designer will provide a demonstration alongside afternoon
A BEEKEEPERS’ open day is set to be held in the Ribble Valley. Samlesbury Hall will host the event on Sunday, June 22, from 11am to 4pm. Local beekeepers will be explaining all about the ‘magical properties’ of bees and their honey. For
READ Parish Council has decided to enter the Best Kept Village Competition this year. The village has won in past years and has previously received new wooden benches as prizes. The parish council has called on all villagers keep their own
THE award-winning Ramsons restaurant, in Ramsbottom, has re-opened as the newly-refurbished Venetian House, ushering in a new era of fine Italian dining. The eatery, at 18 Market Street, has been launched under the mentorship of Ramsons owner Chris
A HEALTH walk sets off from Clough Bottom Reservoir, in Water, today, at 1.30pm. Walkers should meet at the bottom entrance, in Burnley Road East, for the moderate stroll, with some inclines.
A WALK in Lee Quarry, Bacup, will be led by expert guide Arthur Baldwin, on Sunday, July 27. The Friends of the Valley of Stone are inviting people to join them for a packed lunch, with legends and poetry at the site. The group will meet at 11am, and
JAKE Berry, MP for Rossendale, is holding his next advice surgery on Thursday, June 5, at Bacup Library. To book an appointment, call 01706 215547, or 01254 701258.
A QUAD bike and power tools were stolen from a farm in Cowpe Road, Waterfoot, over the weekend. A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “The offender, or offenders, took some time to cut their way into a farm building to get at the quad.” Anyone
A POSTBOX which was recently removed from Higherford is to be replaced. Royal Mail confirmed it would replace the postbox, in Gisburn Road, after pressure from Barrowford councillor Tony Beckett and Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson. The old box
A PENDLE school has maintained its good rating after an interim inspection by Ofsted. The education watchdog visited Higham St John’s CE Primary School in March and assessed pupils’ attainment and progress. In a letter to parents earlier this month
A HOMEOWNER has re-submitted plans for a detached home beside his house in Barrowford. Nicholas Taylor, of Appleby Drive, wants to build a three-bedroom house in his garden.
THE final Northern Soul party of the spring season runs at the Rolls Royce Leisure Club this Saturday. DJ Roman Korol will be among those performing at the Skipton Road venue from 8pm to 1am on May 31. Admission is £5.
A LITHUANIAN abattoir worker hanged himself after feeling homesick and paranoid, an inquest has heard. Police confirmed they had taken Sarunas Grigas, who was living in Nelson, home after being called by a taxi driver who became concerned when
FEWER burglaries were solved by police last year, despite a fall in the number of break-ins, new figures reveal. More than 85 per cent of offenders in East Lancashire escaped justice in 2013, up from 82 per cent the year before, statistics released
CANCER Research has thanked its Nelson and Barrowford branch after members raised more than £20,000 in the past year. It will go towards a prostate cancer research project at Lancaster University.
A TEENAGE boy has been given a referral order after he snatched an eight-year-old girl from the streets of Padiham. The attack on the girl prompted the courts to order the 14-year-old to live outside the Burnley and Padiham area for his own personal
COLNE Primet Academy students recently paid a visit to Fort Vale Engineering Ltd in Simonstone to learn about its business and apprenticeship programme. The firm was founded by Ted Fort, a former pupil at the school.
THE case of Kieron Breaks, 23, of Tiber Avenue, was bailed until June 4 at Burnley Magistrates Court. He is accused of failing to comply with a community order.
LANCASHIRE Fire and Rescue Service has warned people not to use charcoal barbecues on boats as they give off “dangerous amounts” of carbon dioxide, while blown embers could cause a fire.
THE British Hen Welfare Trust’s centre in Haslingden is looking for people who can give a home to some ex-battery chickens on Saturday. To register or for more information visit bhwt.org.uk
YOUNG people are invited to join baking sessions at Burnley Youth Zone, in Whittam Street, on Wednesdays from 4pm to 7pm. The group make buns, flapjacks and other baked goods.
OLDER people in Lancashire are being to make sure they are claiming the correct pension. Age UK Lancashire is offering special help and advice with benefits for pensioners in the area. The organisation believes many elderly people in the area
AN amateur football club from Pendle is set to benefit from a county council grant. Barnoldswick Town United, which was formed in 2012, will receive £131.94 from County Coun David Whipp. Coun Whipp, for West Craven, considered and approved
THE church warden at St John’s in Read is the sole point of contact after the vicar retired recently. Call 07517 806076
A 21-year-old man is facing trial at Burnley Magistrates Court. Samuel Bullock, of Selby Street, Nelson, has denied two counts of assault by beating and one of criminal damage, on May 24 and 25, at Nelson. He was bailed until July 22,
HOMEOWNERS in Gannow area of Burnley have applied to extend their property. Mr and Mrs Masson want to build a two storey extension to the side of their house in of Sycamore Avenue.
KEITH Guy, 48, of Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, will stand trial at Burnley Crown Court on July 14, after denying rape and assault by beating. The defendant was granted bail.
HEALTH chief Debbie Nixon said a dementia awareness event will improve patient awareness. Visitors to the event at Turf Moor in Burnley were able to experience a ‘virtual dementia tour’. And Debbie Nixon, chief operating officer at Blackburn
A BAR has introduced regular live music events. The Attic, Accrington, is hosting live band evenings with drinks included for £20 each Friday. The regular sessions include three live bands. Doors at the Warner Street bar open at 10pm.
A MOTHER and daughter netball camp is being held throughout the half-term holidays. The sports sessions are taking place at Blackburn Central High School with Crosshill until tomorrow. Participants will train with qualified coaches in a female-only
ALAN Judge hopes to learn whether his future lies at Blackburn Rovers or Brentford in the next few days – as he seeks regular football next season. Judge spent the second half of the season on loan at Brentford after falling down the pecking order
BURNLEY would be set for a cash windfall should Jay Rodriguez be sold by Southampton. The England international has been tipped for a move to Tottenham Hotspur, following in the footsteps of manager Mauricio Pochettino from St Mary’s after he was
A WOMAN abandoned as a baby on the steps of a health centre has made a desperate plea for her ‘real’ parents to get in touch. Arlene Creed was aged between one and three months old when she was left in a yellow carrycot on January 16, 1967.
BLACKPOOL have performed a U-turn in appointing a new manager after deciding against employing ex-Claret Brian Flynn. The Seasiders have been without a permanent boss since Paul Ince’s sacking in January and the former Wrexham boss was set to take over
BLACKBURN Rovers defender Grant Hanley played for 90 minutes as Scotland drew 2-2 with Nigerian in a friendly in London. The game took place at Fulham’s Craven Cottage and Scotland led through Charlie Mulgrew. Hanley had a goal disallowed before he
Every day we test your sporting knowledge with our just for fun 10 to tackle... 1 What was Rory McIlroy’s first tournament win on the European Tour? 2 Who was the last England footballer to score in a World Cup match? 3 Which current ATP
Sandown stages the premier evening meeting of the year tonight with a pair of Group 3’s and a listed race to be run on ground forecast to be soft after a deluge on Tuesday. No surprise to see Hillstar (2/1 fav) dropped back in trip having pulled
High Jinx could be the time-honoured 'forgotten horse' in the Cantor Fitzgerald Henry II Stakes on a superb card at Sandown. James Fanshawe's gelding is rarely mentioned in dispatches these days, but he will absolutely love the ground at the Esher
