ALI BABA and his 40 thieves burst on to the stage tonight and will join fund-raisers collecting cash for the £1 million SuperScan Appeal. Members of the Blackburn Hospital Players are performing the panto to a near-sell-out audience every night next week
RED-FACED police bosses were today trying to find three of their own mountain bikes - after they were stolen from the station yard. The cycles, believed to be worth around £1,000, were left chained up in a small bike shed at the rear of the Northgate
THE biggest crowd in Hawks history is expected to pack into Blackburn Arena for tomorrow's top-of-the-table clash against bitter rivals Manchester Storm. The Manchester club are expected to have a 600-strong following in what looks certain to be a record
HOSPITAL bosses in Blackburn have been grilled as part of a television documentary on the shortage of intensive care beds of children. A BBC crew from the Close-Up North programme are putting together an investigation into the problems of intensive care
SIX months in the sun is on offer for young people from East Lancashire - but there is catch! EuroSites, owned by Rossendale-based Airtours, is currently recruiting representatives to work at its resorts across Europe. But the firm warns it won't be all
AN ORGANISED ring of criminals are active in the East Lancashire area stealing and cannibalising Ford Transit vans. The warning has been issued by police who have launched a purge on the crooks who are stripping vans down to their body shell and selling
CALLOUS burglars have left a blind girl heartbroken after stealing a machine that helps her learn to read. And a furious head teacher hopes the "scum" who did it will either have a change of heart and return it or be made to suffer within their own criminal
CLOSED circuit TV cameras are needed in Haslingden to detect vandals and other troublemakers, Coun Bob Wilkinson and Coun Anne Goldsworthy told Rossendale Police and Community Forum. There have been problems at old people's flats in Greenfield Gardens
THE Fire Brigade is seeking teams of young people to compete in this year's National Fire Safety Quiz with a chance of winning cash prizes and VIP helicopter trips. Young people throughout Lancashire are invited to take part. The winners of the local
MORE than 50 rail passengers cheated death when their train smashed into a pile of concrete left by vandals. And today a British Transport Police spokesman said their could have been carnage if the driver had not seen the obstruction in time. The incident
CENTRAL Lancashire Euro MP Mark Hendrick is accusing the Conservatives' European allies of "sleaze" for putting back Labour efforts to introduce tough new standards for the declaration of financial interests in the European Parliament. Mr Hendrick said
PRESIDENTS, members and former members of East Lancashire branches of a professional women's club gathered on the site of their first meeting place to celebrate 60 years of the organisation. Representatives of Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington, Clitheroe
RESIDENTS-only parking is being considered for side streets near Blackburn Rovers' football ground. Residents will be consulted on a package of plans drawn up by Blackburn Council to restrict parking, particularly on match days. Stopping supporters parking
LITTLE Miss Courage, five-year-old Hayley Isherwood, has lost her fight against a rare form of cancer. And her family's grief at the tragic loss of their brave little girl at her home in Clitheroe is being shared with everyone who came into contact with
RED-FACED police bosses were today trying to find three of their own mountain bikes - after they were stolen from the station yard. The cycles, believed to be worth around £1,000, were left chained up in a small bike shed at the rear of the Northgate
BEN seems destined to spend his life at the RSPCA. This five year old mongrel was rehoused by the RSPCA, but was returned to them when his owner could not look after him. He has now been living in hope at the RSPCA for twelve months. Ben does not like
WHAT'S IN a name? The answer could be quite a lot if that name happens to be Lisa Moorish. The young singer releases her new single Mr Friday Night on Monday and that is likely to mean we'll be seeing a lot more of her. Pulp, Oasis, TLC and Blondie are
"WE WANT a lot to do a little - and fund-raising to be fun," is the motto adopted by the committees of the SuperScan Appeal. Blackburn chairman Terry Barber took time out from the last meeting to encourage everyone in East Lancashire to join in the mammoth
AN EAST Lancashire head teachers' spokesman has backed calls to ban pupils who have aggressive or violent parents. Mr Neil Thornley, North West council member for the National Association of Head Teachers, says most heads are fed up with an increasing
BLACKBURN Rovers' Premiership game against Manchester United at Old Trafford will be beamed back "live" to Ewood Park on Saturday, February 10. It is only the second time in nine clashes between the clubs - including the Charity Shield - that Sky TV has
STAFF at an overcrowded Brierfield primary school have been told work on a new school could start this year. Education chiefs have given the green light for a new Holy Trinity RC School to be built on derelict land off Heyhead Street. The new building
PUPILS at Hollins County High School, Accrington, raised £1,000 for the SuperScan Appeal. The cheque was presented to the Hyndburn committee for the appeal and the school received a Gold Award certificate. The youngsters raised the cash through a raffle
BURNLEY manager Jimmy Mullen has refused to rule out a fresh signing to boost the Clarets Second Division promotion thrust. The Clarets sailed past the half-way mark in the season with a storming 4-3 victory over Stockport County and today Mullen went
FUND-raisers hope to raise cash for needy causes by losing as many pounds as possible. Fifteen members of Accrington Rotary Club have started a three-month sponsored slim and fitness regime. The average weight loss of the slimmers will be calculated next
A POPULAR artist is asking people to be on the look out for one of his oil paintings stolen from the window of a law firm. Grenville Nock, of Railway Road, Darwen, had displayed the picture of Darwen Tower in the window of Darwen Law Chambers. But thieves
PASSERS-BY had better hope the leaves don't start falling from this tree come next autumn! The 10ft high metal tree has been erected as part of a new look for Greenbank Business Park in Blackburn. The tree, complete with steel panel leaves, has been designed
FIREMEN fought for four hours to free a cow which was stuck in thick mud. They used slings and a hose line to get the exhausted animal, which was pregnant, clear of the mud around a drainage ditch at Barry Wickington's Crow Holes Farm, Foxstones Lane,
MUM Collette Duckett went head over heels for her new baby. She hung on to seven-week-old Helen when she took a tumble on the stairs - and ended up with a badly broken leg, sealed in plaster. Collette, 28, of Infirmary Street, Blackburn, said: "I was
A YOUNGSTER was one step away from TV stardom when he reached the final auditions for an acting part in a Dairylea Granada TV commercial. Hundreds of young models applied for the part and 10-year-old Christopher Kay, of Maple Crescent, Rishton, got through
A YOUNG woman died today in a horrific road-race accident which left one friend fighting for life and three others injured. Police believe the accident, which occurred at around 3am near to the Swallow Hotel at Samlesbury on the A59 road out of Blackburn
POLICE are investigating a road accident in Burnley last night which left a driver with serious leg injuries. The accident happened in Todmorden Road, near Hufling Lane, around 8.30pm. A Ford Escort is believed to have been in collision with with a lorry
CHAMPION school children have been rewarded for their own anti-drugs campaign. The School Community Action Team from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Blackburn, beat off competition from five other local schools to win first prize for their presentation
THE adventures of Lassie are nothing compared to the exploits of Beauty the wandering wonder dog. Although the 15-year-old poodle cross is partially deaf and blind, he still managed to cross a busy dual-carriageway safely when he went for a walkabout.
ROVERS' ticket allocation for the game at Old Trafford will go on sale to season-ticket holders only - first come, first served - next Saturday, January 27, by personal application at the Ewood Ticket Office. Postal or telephone applications will NOT
