A SCHOOLGIRL was recovering today after being rushed to hospital when she drank strong cider she claimed had been laced with the drug LSD at an under 18s disco. The 11-year-old collapsed inside the Blackburn club Northern Lights and later at home, after
THE panic button was pressed for an East Lancashire vicar when he heard the interpreter for a Russian choir would not be arriving and he was the next in line! The Rev Ian Dewar, vicar of St Stephen's CE Church, Tockholes, organised for the Russian Cathedral
WHEN Wycombe Wanderers boss Alan Smith aimed the radar gun at shooting star John Williams he clocked a powerpack 70.7mph thunderbolt. Williams lined up in the Wycombe shooting gallery as a national soccer magazine sought the hardest shot in England. Team-mate
POSITIVE community action is to be rewarded by local authorities and industry after local groups and individuals were nominated for awards. Four community action awards are to be presented in recognition of efforts made by local groups in the Blackburn
MARKET Hall traders in Accrington are pushing for compensation - possibly reduced rents - for any loss of business during development of the new town centre. But council officers are advising councillors it would be premature to look at compensation for
ONE of East Lancashire's biggest bus companies was given a "severe warning" to improve its poor record. Hyndburn Transport appeared before a public inquiry to explain a catalogue of faults discovered by a Department of Transport Inspector and police.
THE government makes rules so complicated that no one can understand. There is nothing wrong with changing over our weights and measures system. But people who introduce it are at fault. If we are going metric then let's be metric - not half and half,
I AM doing research for a short television documentary for Channel 4, looking at wealthy and aristocratic families whose children have chosen an alternative lifestyle from the one they were born into. If any of your readers can help with this research
HAVE been asked by Tayforth Universities OTC Regimental Association to try to compile a comprehensive Roll of Service of OTC/STC members who served in HM Forces during World War Two, as the original records were destroyed in a fire. I should be obliged
A MAJOR conference is poised to debate who foots the bill for the care of the long-term sick in East Lancashire. The event will discuss how far the NHS should be responsible for meeting the continuing care needs of the elderly, dependent and long-term
A MASSIVE trade union march will make its way through East Lancashire tomorrow. The 'Peoples March to Defend the Welfare State' left Bury today and will pass through Burnley, Accrington and Blackburn and on to Preston, before ending in a Rally in Blackpool
THE Kashmiri separatists holding Blackburn student Paul Wells were today urged to free their hostages. Blackburn MP Jack Straw's appeal came on the eve of the 24-year-old's 100th day in captivity. Mr Straw said: "If the kidnappers have any sense and concern
RE-PLANTING on a lake island at a popular park was the first project for members of a new green team. The Parkwatch team at Blackburn's Corporation Park has been set up to tackle the problem of vandals and to counteract the negative effects of the wreckers
POLICE hunting a handbag snatcher with a knife have renewed their appeal for information. Detectives in Accrington today issued a more detailed description of the mugger who cut a young woman's hand as he slashed through the straps of her bag. The 31-
THE FATHER of student hostage Paul Wells has spoken of his son's amazing thirst for adventure on the eve of his 100th day in captivity. And Paul's dad Bob says he is still confident that his son will return home safe and well. It was on July 4 when Paul
POLICE carried out an early morning swoop on houses in Burnley's troubled Stoops estate today after stone throwing youths forced firemen to leave the area. Two people were arrested for public disorder on the West End estates last night in which a stolen
TOUGH new restrictions on water use came into force today after the weekend's mini heatwave. North West Water is introducing its new restrictions under a drought order granted by the Government. Non essential use such as watering council parks and gardens
A CARING volunteer and his eight-year-old son have just returned from a mercy mission to Romania - a trip, he says, is becoming increasingly difficult to make. It was Benjamin Lee's first jaunt to the country which his father, David, of Skye Crescent,
THE couple behind the bar of one of the Ribble Valley's most popular pubs have decided to call time. Terry Hesketh and his wife Kath have transformed the Freemason's Arms in Wiswell, from a sleepy village pub to a highly-successful food-orientated business
A FATHER-OF-TWO was today due to undergo surgery to offer the gift of life to a seriously ill German. Big-hearted Richard Lomax has been told his bone marrow is the perfect match of the sick man - defying odds of more than a thousand to one. The 37-year-old
A HALF-DAY strike for protesting teachers had a mixed impact on East Lancashire schools today. Across the area, some schools suffered severe disruptions when hundreds of teachers walked out in support of an NASUWT demonstration and rally at the Tory Party
I FEEL I must reply to a point made by W Meadows (Letters, September 29) in which he states that the council has failed to spend money on private sector houses in amounts proportionate to those lavished on council houses, in particular, Roman Road. Mr
A COUPLE are waging war on North West Water after claiming the company ruined their fly fishery business, sending £140,000 of their hard-earned cash down the river. But Gordon and Maggie Paterson, of Plantation Road, Blackburn, are still facing financial
BILLY McKinlay is in pole position to be the next new arrival in Ray Harford's Ewood shake-up. The Dundee United midfielder is believed to have had preliminary discussions at Rovers' Brockhall training ground on Saturday. Further talks will be necessary
A YOUNG woman was attacked from behind and threatened with a knife as she walked home in the early hours of today. The victim, 27, was taking a short-cut at the back of Burnley Road, Huncoat, when she was grabbed around her neck. Her attacker told her
HOSPITAL bosses are aiming to reduce waiting room congestion by slashing the number of follow-up appointments with specialists. The move would mean patients facing fewer trips to hospital outpatient clinics after they are discharged from wards. Trust
A CHARITY parachute jump almost ended in disaster when a novice jumper drifted three miles off course and landed in a shooting range. But Michael Jackson escaped being shot because the range was closed for the day. The worker of Borden Decorative Products
PENSIONERS and disabled people are living in fear of teenage rebels who are terrorising an entire neighbourhood. Residents in the Keele Walk area of Audley, Blackburn, are so terrified of the young vandals that they are afraid to walk the streets at night
AS a church organist, I was extremely disappointed to read the front page story "Organist walks out on wedding," (LET, October 4). Having known Mr Guy Pomfret for some time, I know that he is an extremely committed, competent and professional church organist
A 22-year-old woman was bound up and brutally raped after being dragged into woodland by a savage attacker. The victim was pounced on as she walked her small dog through Billinge Woods between 10.30am and 2pm yesterday. She was ordered to strip and had
BLACKBURN Rovers' England defender Graeme Le Saux could be sidelined until early November. But Le Saux is making healthy progress after suffering an ankle injury in the 5-1 Premiership win over Coventry City last month. It was at first thought Le Saux
Blackburn Hawks 7 Peterborough Pirates 4; Blackburn Hawks 12 Bracknell Bees 5 IT may be early season and Ryan Kummu probably won't thank me for saying it, but there is a real feeling of promotion in the air at Blackburn Arena writes Paul Agnew. The unstoppable
