West Sydney Wanderers have addressed their hunt for a new striker with the addition of veteran Alexander Meier – bringing to an end their interest in Danny Graham. The A-League side had contacted Rovers about the possibility of signing Graham which
A GAS leak forced the closure of several roads in a town. The leak happened near the railway arches on Blackburn Road in Accrington at around 2.30pm today. It forced the closure of Blackburn Road and nearby Edgar Street and King Street for around
This week had become something of a ‘Where’s Holtby?’ for Rovers supporters. The new recruit certainly kept fans on their toes with a series of cryptic posts about his destination as he made the way to East Lancashire via car and boat. But
Rovers have released dates for their six Premier League Cup group games which starts next month. Billy Barr’s side are one of 32 teams in the competition which is made up of eight groups of four, with the top two in each qualifying for the knockout
MORE than 200 people lined the streets of Hapton on Friday to attend the funeral of mother-of-two, Lindsay Birbeck. Police stopped traffic as the hearse made its way down Manchester Road to St Margaret’s Church. Lindsay's coffin was covered
ERIK Pieters is hoping for bragging rights again over best friend Tim Krul when Burnley take on Norwich today. The pair have been close since meeting at the Under-17 World Championship in Peru in 2005 when they were both part of the Holland squad
Jose Gomes admits he is unsure what system Rovers will play at Reading, but is certain who their main threat is. The Royals boss has pinpointed Bradley Dack, who has two goals in his last two matches, as the key man to watch. Tony Mowbray switched
MORE than 60 protesters gathered outside Blackburn Town Hall to support an international rally for climate change. Millions of people around the world joined together for the ‘Global Strike 4 Climate Change’ and organisers behind the protest on
A MAN suffered a fractured jaw and eye socket in an assault outside a Burnley nightclub. Police have released information about the incident where a 30-year-old man was punched and attacked outside Panamas nightclub in Hammerton Street. The victim
TONY Mowbray believes Lewis Holtby will bring flexibility to Rovers’ midfield options. Holtby was known in his early days as an attacking midfielder, with creativity and flair key to his game. In recent years for Hamburg he has occupied a deeper
THERE'S nothing like leaving it to the last minute is there? After dropping two points very late on against Wolves, the Clarets found themselves on the happier side of the same scenario, when Jeff - he of wonderful hair - Hendrick popped up to
THE land of a former top Lancashire entertainment attraction has been valued at nearly £800m. Together Money, who offer mortgage and loan products, have picked out eight abandoned spaces around the world that can offer opportunities for developers
A TOTAL of 253 football banning orders were issued in East Lancashire in the last four years, according to the latest figures. Burnley Football Club had the highest number with 172, Blackburn Rovers had 80 and Accrington Stanley had one. A
TOUR operator Thomas Cook has confirmed that it is seeking £200 million in extra funding as it attempts to prevent a collapse. The company said it is in talks with stakeholders, including leading shareholder Chinese firm Fosun, to bridge the funding
Rovers will need to be ‘mindful’ of Reading’s attacking threat – including that of Lucas Joao, a player who Tony Mowbray knows well. Joao scored three times under Mowbray while on loan from Sheffield Wednesday as Rovers battled to try and stay
This was the historic moment when West Indian cricket legend Viv Richards went into bat for the first time as Rishton professional in 1987. Earlier in the day he had arrived in typically flamboyant style by helicopter provided by a national newspaper
FORMER soldier David Rankin remembers very little about the moment his life changed. The Liverpudlian was just 18 when he flew out to serve with the British Army in Iraq in 2008, but only a few weeks later he suffered horrific injuries when he
A MAN with no previous convictions assaulted his wife and a police officer on a night when he behaved "totally out of character". Blackburn magistrates heard Graham Jordison punched his wife and then dragged her onto the floor. She called a taxi
IT was an odd order for the craft department at Mount Carmel High School in Accrington in March 1979. They were asked to supply grass skirts, flower garlands, shark’s tooth necklaces...and even a shrunken head. The boys have used bits of wire
A TEENAGE burglar was caught out by blood left behind at the scene of his crime – after he was attacked by a territorial family cat. Burnley Crown Court heard after cocaine addict Connor Gorton raided the house with an accomplice his victims received
A COCKTAIL bar in East Lancashire – which faced a battle with neighbours over 2am closing – has poured its last mojito. Administrators have been called in at The Lounge, in Barrowford, which has been running for just over two-and-a-half years.
THE ombudsman in charge of social care has seen a jump in the number of upheld complaints, sparking concerns that providers are attempting to “ration resources” to cut costs. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is now finding in favour
A LOSS-making bakery in Blackburn has been forced to call it a day - six years after a rescue deal offered hopes of a new lease of life. Forty-four jobs were saved, in late 2013, at Sandersons, in Pleckgate Road, Ramsgreave, when Stockport-based
HUNDREDS of fundraisers took part in a sponsored walk to raise money for a hospital charity. Charity supporters, including members of hospital trust staff, walked about eight miles of Morecambe Bay sands in glorious sunshine, from Arnside to Kent
A RESIDENTIAL hospital for men with mental health disorders is celebrating after being rated outstanding by the health and social care watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). In its inspection, Kemple View, in Langho, near Blackburn, was rated
A new community cinema aimed at children is coming to an East Lancashire Town. A joint venture by Bacup Royal Court Theatre, and volunteer community group Bacup Now, the new Bacup Cinema will launch on October 6, with a screening of Toy Story 4.
THE Church of England in Lancashire believes a 98-year-old woman in Darwen is its longest serving parishioner. Edna Emery was baptised at Holy Trinity Church in the town and was married there and still worshipping in the building when it became
RESIDENTS of a borough have been reminded the deadline to comment on a controversial shake-up of ward boundaries is October 7. In February the Local Government Boundary Commission for England approved a new draft electoral map for Pendle Council
A SCHOOL will next week celebrate the joys of reading and writing with its very own 'author in residence'. Blackburn's Audley Juniors is holding five days of events to mark the publication of Year Three teacher Carol-Anne Naylor's first book.
BURNLEY Council is set to invest more than £300,000 on providing new facilities for disabled residents and visitors in the borough. Councillors were asked to approve two social care schemes following funding from Lancashire County Council. Just
NEIGHBOURS have raised concerns over plans to build new bungalows and a petrol station near their homes. Primary school teacher Jade Tee received a letter detailing plans by Maple Grove Developments to build 48 bungalows for over-55s, a petrol station
A RAIL union general secretary has accused Northern bosses for ‘glossing over’ serious problems in the wake of last year’s timetable chaos. Manuel Cortes, from white-collar TSSA, made his attack after the train company’s regional director Chris
BLACKBURN MP Kate Hollern will be holding two advice surgeries for local residents today. She will be at the Mill Hill Community Centre from 3pm to 4pm and at the Little Harwood Community Centre from 5pm to 6pm. No appointments are required
MORE than £13,000 in business rates debt is set to be written off by Ribble Valley councillors. The local authority is owed £13,512.03 from two businesses and members of the council’s policy and finance committee are being asked to approve writing
WORK will start next week on a pilot project to test how natural solutions such as creating wetlands can help reduce the risk of flooding near a hill town. Diggers are poised to move onto Marlfield Farm on the banks of the River Aire to start on
A SCHEME to help teenage girls to deal with social and mental health problems has been visited by Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner to see first-hand how it is using a cash grant he authorised. Clive Grunshaw dropped in on Blackburn's The
An apprentice from East Lancashire has won an apprentice of the year award at a regional ceremony. Michal Halamicek, from Barrowford, was crowned winner of the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year, at the North West ceremony of the National Apprenticeship
Workers from Together Housing Group donated more than 240 man hours, including evenings and weekends, to help the DIY SOS team transform a rundown church hall to house vulnerable young people, in aid of BBC Children in Need. Throughout the transformation
The winner of a colouring competition held at a town's food festival has been announced. Zakariya Ismael from Nelson was this years' winner of the Nelson Food Festival colouring competition and won a box full of chocolate goodies. Zahida Shamin
A FINAL call has gone out for groups willing to take over Blacksnape football pitches in Darwen. The deadline for submitting an expression of interest is Monday and Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for public health and wellbeing,
DARWEN Ladies Choir has launched a recruitment drive for members under new musical director Matthew Thomas. Its mainly sings popular music from ABBA through John Rutter to Andrew Lloyd Webber. Potential recruits should attend rehearsals at St
Rovers Mowbray wants the addition of Lewis Holtby to propel expectation levels at the club and boost their push for a top six spot. Free agent Holtby signed a two-year deal after leaving Hamburg and became the seventh fresh face through the door
