Morecambe 1 Woking 2 MORECAMBE were beaten but certainly not outclassed as they lost out in their tough season opener against Conference title favourites Woking at Christie Park on Saturday. And Jim Harvey will have been hoping for a similar performance
LANCASTER City return to the Unibond Premier League on Saturday with a tough curtain raiser at home to much fancied Hyde United. The Blues have been busy in the close season with five new faces arriving at Giant Axe as manager Alan Tinsley builds a side
CHIEF constable Pauline Clare made a flying visit to Blackpool yesterday (August 21) to officially launch the resort's closed circuit television system (CCTV). Ten cameras have been operating on and off in the town centre for some months on a trial basis
ANDREW Payne has expressed disappointment at Baxenden Cricket Club's decision not to renew his contract after this season. The club is attempting to start afresh after a poor season in the Ribblesdale League and Payne is not part of their plans. "I probably
Toddler distressed after sinister theft A FIVE-year-old girl was left shaking and distraught after a sinister trio raided her mother's handbag in the middle of a bustling Lancaster shopping centre. A man and two women sneaked up to the girl who was guarding
HEART-THROB musicians Boyzone are to headline at Blackpool's biggest party next Thursday (August 29). The chart-topping group will perform at the free Big 100 birthday party on the promenade to celebrate the centenary of Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Top
THE Radio One Roadshow returns to Morecambe next week with top DJ Nicky Campbell bringing it back to the resort after a three-year break. The touring super show will arrive at the Morecambe Arena next Wednesday, August 28, providing two hours of live
WOMEN over 65 years old are most at risk from breast cancer, but are failing to be screened. And that should concern women in the Leigh area, according to Age Concern which says it is "disappointed" in the number of women in this area who have been screened
LARGE companies in the North West are missing out on thousands of pounds worth of savings just by changing the way they buy their office supplies. According to research commissioned by Nat West, a firm with a turnover of £50 million will have approximately
IMPRESSIVE St Mary's High thrilled an audience of 1,000 with their performance of "Princess Ida" at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. Top musical theatre adjudicator David Turner praised the Astley school's "charm, colour, precision, warmth
THE RACE to bring the movies back to Accrington is hotting up. Two companies have applied for planning permission to build a six-screen cinema and drive-through restaurant on land in Moreton Street. Both Apollo Leisure, from Chorley, and Midlands-based
RESIDENTS of a private housing estate are being driven quackers by a a duck population boom! People living near a pond in the Rhodes Avenue area of Blackburn are fighting a losing battle against rising numbers. The original ten birds, provided as an environmental
A NAP hand of youngsters are playing their own version of 'Octopussy.' They have been cast in St Joseph's Players' enthralling production of the Dodie Smith drama 'Dear Octopus.' And Michael Evans, Alex Doorey, Harriet Gill, Katie Jones and Jenna Kristofferson
DETECTIVES are investigating an alleged family of fraudsters who are believed to have netted £200,000 after masterminding a widespread benefits conspiracy. The suspected frauds were uncovered when police probing a series of shoplifting offences arrested
THE borough's elderly folk are being urged to reapply for meals-on-wheels before the service is scrapped. Not one of the 240 pensioners using the service has applied to be reassessed for it when it is taken over by the county council next month. There
CRIMEFIGHTER Cath McGregor has been run-out of the community she strived to improve. She's now living in a hostel for the homeless with her children, Jessica, 2, and eight year-old John, after vandals smashed-up her car outside her Westleigh home. The
THE bank balance was still empty as Blackburn Rovers headed back up the M6 last night. "Nil points", as they say in the Eurovision Song Contest, and "Nil goals" for that matter too. But, while the burden will become heavier with each game that passes
WATERFIELDS took their first step to becoming a household name synonymous with quality when the rest of Britain was on strike! It was 1926 - the year of the General Strike - when miner Albert Edward Waterfield and his wife, Alice, began their bold business
St Mary's RC High SchooL, Astley G. Allmark 1, Sarah Barrett 3, M. Barron 2, M. Baxendale 1, M. Branton 1, Catherine Carey 4, Clare Close 3, M. Collier 1, Elizabeth Cooper 3, D. Davies 2, A. Dickinson 3, P. Didiuk 3, W. Downham 2, Sarah Duffy 3, J. Dunn
BLACKBURN Hawks are hoping to complete the signing of three overseas players by the end of the week - but manager Mike Cockayne is still keeping his cards close to his chest to who they might be. However, the Hawks supremo revealed that he has turned
LANCASHIRE Constabulary has announced plans to recruit more special constables to help in it's battle against crime - after it was awarded a £150,000 Home Office training grant. Operation 'Extra Special' was launched with the aim of taking on and training
THE final regular season league game went down to the wire for Preston Bobcats. But they held their nerve to beat a much-improved Cartmel Valley Lions 13-11 in the Northern Conference West Baseball League. Both pitchers went to the full nine innings in
BLACKBURN and Accrington Police Stations will merge next year in a bid to give the public better value for money. Lancashire's 14 divisions will transform into six larger, self-sufficient zones, each with its own staff, finance and resources. The announcement
LADIES were left with their hair in curlers, expecting the power to come back on any moment. But they waited and waited ... and nothing happened! Four hours later women at Marion Craven Hair Salon were still sitting with rollers in, waiting for the electricity
A WOMAN fought off an attacker in Avenham Park, Preston, on Sunday by biting him on the cheek. Police say the man had dragged his 24-year-old victim by the neck into a clump of bushes. But the brave woman escaped with cuts and bruises after putting up
WHEN it comes to sports coverage in The Citizen, Preston North End will always be top of the league. That's why we have teamed up with sports correspondent Tom Parker of Red Rose Gold to provide all the latest news, revues and local gossip about our favourite
WHAT are the people of this country supposed to make of Labour's plans for devolution for Scotland? One minute a referendum on Labour's proposed tax - raising Scottish parliament is ruled out. The next minute it's Labour policy. Tony Blair's retreat on
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager Stan Allan is confident his side can make an impression on the Unibond League Premier Division this season as they kick of their campaign at Colwyn Bay on Saturday (August 24). Despite having three players out - Neil Edmonds
IN response to the recent abuse to the drinkers ie 'creatures' in Blackburn town centre (August 8). I have in past years looked after people of this town, I have picked people up off the floor, old aged pensioners, lifted prams on and off buses, helped
THE QUEEN'S milliner Sir Frederick Fox dropped into town to take his hat off to an expanding local firm. He visited the Preston branch of Felicity Hat Hire, on Liverpool Road, Penwortham, yesterday (August 21), to take a look around the unique family-run
THE DISCOVERY of murdered student Janet Murgatroyd's body by water skiers in the River Ribble in Preston was reconstructed for TV crews this week. Detectives heading the murder inquiry have enlisted the help of BBC's Crimewatch UK in a bid to jog memories
A MULTI-million pound bid for Government cash to revitalise Deepdale in Preston has been slashed by half. A wish list of projects to bring jobs and training to the area was under close scrutiny at a meeting on Monday. Deepdale's Single Regeneration Budget
THE mother of David Kearney - who was fatally savaged by rottweilers - is considering taking civil action against the dogs' owner after a jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing. And coroner Andre Rebello has sent a report of the two-day inquest to
PRESTON mum Nicola O'Hara knows what it's like to live through a family tragedy - three years ago her 14-month-old daughter Rachel was diagnosed with cancer. Emergency surgery removed a tumour from her adrenal gland and six months of chemotherapy at the
WORKERS were evacuated from the Philips components plant at Simonstone after nitrogen and chlorine gas contaminated a production area. About 30 workers were sent home after the wrong gas was allowed into processing equipment following a mistake during
I WISH to thank the person who so kindly handed my pension book in to Blackburn head post office on Tuesday, August 13. It is nice to know that there are still honest people about. J CLARK, Largs Road, Blackburn. Converted for the new archive on 14 July
BLACKBURN Diocese has joined the information super highway to make it easier for people to get the information they want. It's Web-site includes phone numbers for all the Clergy of the area, as well as the Bishops and other senior staff, church schools
DRY weather is a problem for hedgehogs since it means a shortage of fresh water and also of worms and beetles - their favourite food. A brief spell of rain will be a relief but it will not be enough. Please remember to leave out a shallow bowl or saucer
A FAMILY of alleged fraudsters, believed to have netted £200,000 in a benefits conspiracy, are being investigated by police in Blackburn. Our benefits system, designed to help those who find themselves suffering genuine hardship, is one of the most generous
PENDLE'S tilt at the tourism trade is about to be given an extra push. It comes in the form of a development association, modelled on a flourishing venture in the Ribble Valley and which now, after four years, has nearly 100 members. Just 15 businesses
THE Labour Party in Burnley today delivered the latest body blow to the Race Equality Council by withdrawing its representation on the troubled body. The break from the race harmony group follows resignations by more than 20 organisations and leading
AT 5ft 10in and 15 stone, 16-year-old shot-putter Stephen Palmer could be considered big for his age. And he is... until you compare him with his main rival, Carl Myerscough, who is a massive 7ft and 20 stone! Stephen, from Burnley, has proved himself
EIGHT adventurous youngsters are looking forward to the trip of a lifetime in France after 10 months' training. The SAFE (Summer Adventure in France Expedition) Group have been preparing for their two-week trip with various training and fund raising events
POLICE are investigating a terrifying late night attack on the home of a senior Mersey Docks and Harbour Company manager. The attack at the Eccleston home of the company's communications manager Eric Leatherbarrow took place at 11pm on Monday. Stones
A GOLDEN HEARTED pub licensee and his wife will be staging a charity raffle and auction this Saturday, August 24, to raise money for a young couple whose eight month old baby recently died of cot death syndrome. Pat and Gill Carroll run the Woodlands
KENNY Dalglish today revealed that Blackburn Rovers had instigated his departure from Ewood Park. But he also admitted that he had eventually come to the same opinion as the club - that the role had run its course. In an exclusive interview from Spain
LEIGH Miners Rangers are the champions of champions! They beat derby rivals Wigan St Pat's 22-10 in the final of the Champions Challenge at the weekend. A strong Miners team produced a blistering attacking display in front of a large crowd. From the kick
A SPECIAL swimming club with 22 members whose ages range from eight to 64, is seeking sponsors to splash in with some help. The St Helens Synchronised Swimming Club, which was recently given an official registration by the Amateur Swimming Association
LEIGH-based Rugby star Christian Tyrer is the latest League professional to join a big-money Union outfit. The highly-rated 22 year old half-back has left Widnes and signed a four seaon contract with RU top dogs Bath - giving the West Country outfit a
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD THERE can be precious few who have read their own death notice - and lived to tell the tale more than 60 years later! But that's been the bizarre experience of Betty Rodman. As a teenager she was plucked, apparently lifeless, from
LANCASHIRE were set to offer contract extensions to a number of their first team stars as the Roses Match began at Headingley today. None of Lancashire's senior players comes out of contract this year, except Steve Elworthy, who will return home to South
A 22-year-old St Helens man died when the car he was driving burst into flames after crashing into a tree and lamp-post on the A570 in Scarisbrick at 7am on Tuesday. Rescuers who tried to free Craig Halpin from his Ford Escort XR3i were beaten back by
AMATEUR boxer Ronnie Mercer is set to claim another honour in his meteoric rise to stardom. The 21-year-old St Helens Town ABC ace, who earlier in the year lifted the ABA light-flyweight title, has been selected to represent England in the Karl Leman
SAINTS' Knowsley Road ground will be bursting at the seams on Bank Holiday Monday for the ultimate Super League showdown with Warrington, kick-off 2pm. The cliff-hanging issues at stake are that this is a game both sides must win - with Saints poised
POLICE in Chorley are trying to identify an elderly man - thought to be from St Helens - found wandering in the town at the weekend. The man, who is very confused, was found at 1.50am on Saturday, walking along the A6. Enquiries so far have failed to
COUNCIL officials are warning motorists to drive carefully in St Helens Cemetery and to respect the people buried there. The warning follows an accident at the cemetery last Wednesday, August 14, which caused damage to a number of headstones. The headstones
BRIERCLIFFE parents were this week in the final stages of setting up a private school for their children. The parents, unhappy with high schools allocated by the county council, say the seven 11-year-olds will be taught by two very experienced teachers
NORTH West Water bosses have been talking about their plans for Burnley's massive millennium forest plans. The company is a key player in the partnership of local groups which will transform the area by planting a million trees across the borough by the
IWAS pleased to learn that the Pavilions on Church Street, Blackburn, (LET, August 16), are to be saved from demolition. I have thought at length about a possible use for these buildings as, no doubt, have others. I would not be in favour of them being
THE game between Barnoldswick and Earby on Sunday (August 25) could be crucial in deciding who takes the Ribblesdale League title this season. Barlick lost their grip on top spot with two defeats at the weekend, and with five games remaining Earby top
IMPROVING care for mental health patients in Burnley and Pendle has been put at the centre of the community health council's action plan for the next eight months. The health watchdog says a shortage of psychiatrists could mean changes in the way services
Terror threat from arsonist THE mystery firestarter who branded himself the 'firefox' has vowed to strike again. In yet another telephone threat last Friday evening he warned police that the fires were set to continue. This latest chapter in the firebug
SCANDINAVIANS are going crazy for English football - and Burnley FC have one of the biggest followings outside the premiership. New fans from Norway and Sweden, whose national sides have inflicted harmful defeats on England in the last few years, are
New plan for Morecambe's green scheme THE Festival of Light and Water is the inspiration behind the design for a planned Central Park for Morecambe. At a meeting last week members of the Central Park for Morecambe campaign committee voted to create the
Georgian legacy comes to town for Bank Holiday LANCASTER takes another trip down memory lane this Bank Holiday weekend as the ever popular Georgian Legacy Festival returns to the city. Preparation for war with France in the year 1803 will occupy many
WALSALL, like Burnley, have enjoyed an early-season boost by beating one of Division Two's most fancied sides. The Saddlers come to Turf Moor on Saturday (August 24) fresh from their 1-0 win over title favourites Watford on Tuesday night. Manager Chris
FRIENDS are rallying round to help a special little girl make the most of her life. Rebecca Delaney is three years old but she can barely see, hear or speak, and she lives on paediatric milk through a feeding tube. Yet young Rebecca is a real character
EXPECTATIONS are high as the footy season gets going again but what should we expect from our two sides? In recent years both Morecambe and Lancaster City have had great campaigns so supporters' hopes of going even better are understandable but just what
Caged crusader faces eviction again CHRIS Tague, the man who locked himself inside a steel cage in an attempt to stop the council buying his house earlier this year, could soon be evicted from his new home. Mr Tague put up his famous fight when the council
AS fans arrived at Bloomfield Road for the new football season on Saturday (August 17) they were greeted by cartoon characters, jazz bands and a giant TV screen. The pre-match entertainment was part of Cable Day which was held to celebrate Blackpool Football
FYLDE families can fly to a week in the sun from May 1 next year for less than £125 a head. The new deal, which has been in the pipeline for almost four years, was announced by tour operator giants Thompson Holidays at a press conference at Blackpool
CHIEF Constable Pauline Clare has announced plans to revitalise Lancashire's police force to make it more businesslike and offer better value for money. The second phase of the police's corporate strategy includes a complete restructuring of the current
TRAGIC deaths of two close family members from Britain's number one killer disease made a Blackpool woman determined to act. Sudden heart attacks claimed the lives of Sue Leonard's two uncles and her mum also suffers from angina. Now Sue, aged 43, from
MULTI-NATIONAL companies with a base in East Lancashire have a month to fall in line with European legislation enforcing the creation of European Works Councils. Despite a UK opt-out on the law, companies like British Aerospace, Lucas Industries and Queen's
A COMPANY has joined forces with a university in a £160,000 Government-backed scheme. Apeks Marine Equipment in Darwen has teamed up with the University of Central Lancashire under the Teaching Company Scheme. Apeks, who manufacture scuba diving equipment
SUPERSTAR Shane Richie's wedding blessing in St Annes turned out to be a bit of a nasty experience under the menacing stare of his minders. The star of the musical Grease and the TV game show the Shane Richie Experience and wife Coleen, of the Nolan sisters
LAST week I witnessed a dog being hit by a van on busy Accrington Road. It was not on a lead and I often wonder why these owners bother having dogs. Anyone caught with a dog without a lead on such a main road should be prosecuted. The situation endangered
BLACKPOOL is Lily Savage's kind of town. The bee-hived blonde is at the start of a 15-week run of The Lily Savage Show on North Pier. And she is only too happy to be spending the summer in the resort. Lily said: "When they first offered me the show I
A DARWEN man has entered into Blackburn Borough Council's spirit of celebration by recreating his town's most famous landmark. Frank Hull of Ashton Road spent four months carving the impressive metre-high scale model of Jubilee Tower to mark its centenary
HOME computer users striving to keep up with the multimedia revolution are being given a cheaper alternative to buying a complete new system. East Lancashire success story Time Computer Systems Ltd, which has grown into the UK's largest computer mail
BIKE-mad youngsters are being thrown a safety line by a concerned two wheeler dealer. ESB Motor Cycles in Queen Street, Leigh are offering helmets in the hope of preventing a repeat of the Atherton tragedy in which 15 years-old motorcyclist Eammon Duffy
A CARNIVAL atmosphere swept through Darwen at the weekend as thousands of townsfolk basked in the sunshine at the annual town gala. A riot of colour snaked through the streets in the form of the float parade which kicked off proceedings at the Anchor.
THREE year-old Samantha Hughes has never heard the sound of music, birds singing or her mother calling her name. But thanks to an operation carried out at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, little Samantha of Willow Crescent, Westleigh, may stand a chance
"OUR problems are over" That's the message from health bosses - keen to highlight improvements at Darwen Health Centre. The announcement comes after months of concern about overcrowding at the Union Street site caused by expansions in services. The severity
MORE than 400 signatures were collected in support of a Save Our College campaign when jobless Accrington and Rossendale College lecturers took to the streets. NATFHE representatives and Hyndburn Trades Council members joined forces to spend two hours
THE distraught mother of a 15 year-old Atherton teenager who died after suffering serious head injuries in a motorbike crash is appealing to youngsters to always wear a crash helmet. Elaine Duffy's son, Eamonn, lost his fight for life in the intensive
BIG-hearted walkers are being urged to put on their boots and help the SuperScan appeal march past the £250,000 mark! Appeal chairman Mike Trickett is calling on people taking part in the walk to mark the centenary of the freeing of Darwen Moors to raise
PRIZE PRO Mandj Pazekh had league leaders Morecambe in a real spin. But his clever leg spin, earning 7-62 off 25 consecutive overs (including six maidens) failed to win the game for Preston in the Vaux Northern League Division One. Morecambe were dismissed
IF the Moslem "censors" who defaced the advertising hoarding are so offended by semi-nude people, why do they visit the local swimming baths? I was under the impression that I lived in England. E Pearson 73 Mitton Road Whalley Converted for the new archive
LANCASHIRE Constabulary is mounting a major drive to recruit more special constables following the award of a £150,000 training grant from the Home Office. Operation "Extra Special" was launched this week with the aim of recruiting and training 290 extra
I AM writing about the article in the Citizen, August 15 about the billboard in Blackburn overlooking a mosque. May I say that personally I am disgusted. If the poster had been pro-moslem and any white person had defaced it they would have been charged
WHEN I saw the front page of the Citizen last week I was absolutely appalled. If any other person had defaced a poster in the way done by these "moslem censors" the perpetrators would no doubt have been prosecuted. I for one am sick of people getting
"WE'RE watching like hawks"- that's the defiant message from campaigners committed to saving Blackburn's historic town centre Pavilion buildings. Councillors have made a dramatic U-turn over the plight of the listed Georgian-style buildings after town
CHIEF Constable Pauline Clare has announced plans to revitalise the Lancashire Constabulary. The emphasis will be on a more businesslike force offering better value for money. The second phase of the police's Corporate Strategy unveiled this week includes
DURING the past two weeks a number of complaints have been received regarding the opening times of Hindley Police Station, which unfortunately have had to be curtailed. I feel a public explanation is necessary to clarify the situation. Hindley Police
IAN BRYSON began Preston's golden haul of 1996/97. But his blistering 25-yard strike failed to gather the points as Notts Country triumphed 2-1. Preston's first match in Division Two started in hope and expectancy as they surged forward, running the home
As he prepares for the first Deepdale fixture of the campaign, the determined Preston manager said: "Our aim is to win more games than we lose. "We must just get as many points as we can." He will be hoping to gather his first on Saturday (August 24)
GLENN Challenger's cheeky smile says it all - he's proud to be posing in his favourite blue and white outfit! That's because just a year ago the happy-go-lucky youngster was so ill he could never have imagined he would be dressing up for his first Ewood
IN reply to Mr Singh's recent comments on Islam, I would like to correct the learned gentleman on a few inaccuracies in his letter. The atrocities committed in Bosnia were against Muslims. To cite this as a case against Islamic fundamentalism seems bizarre
SPIRITUALIST Stephen Holbrook brought tears to a few eyes on Thursday August 15 when he appeared at the Play House in Preston. But it wasn't tears of laughter, it was tears of nostalgia as they remembered loved ones who they'd lost. The surprisingly young
DAVID MAY won't do his old Rovers teammates any favours when he plays against them for Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. The ex-Ewood favourite is looking to establish himself as a United player and become a part of Glenn Hoddle's new England
A PRESTON mother fears for the health of her new-born baby because the council is forcing them to live in squalor. Sharon Black, 19, of Moira Crescent, Brookfield, faces a daily barrage of dust, debris and an invasion of building workers while her council
AS ACCRINGTON go in search of their first double of the season, professional Chad Grainger will be looking to complete a personal battle against his old mate and drinking partner Billy Stelling. The two big South Africans come face-to-face on the pitch
BURNLEY football fan Ted Reid has been appointed commercial director at AFC Bournemouth. Burnley born and bred, Mr Reid, 60, is managing director of Bournemouth's Yellow Buses and has been appointed to the board at the Second Division club to help develop
MEDICS commandeered a ladder to reach an elderly woman unconscious in her bedroom after an asthma attack. The Altham ambulance was called to an address in Blackburn Road, Great Harwood by an elderly woman suffering from breathing difficulties. But when
AN ANGRY Baxenden farmer was offering a reward after a new-born calf was stolen from his field. Albert Nelson only found the calf had gone when its distressed mother went to the farm gate. Mr Nelson, of Friar Hall Farm, said the calf had probably been
THE public image of United Utilities, the North West water and electricity monopoly, is not the best in the world. It has been accused of looking after the financial interests of "fat cat" directors while shedding thousands of jobs. And it has not impressed
TWENTY residents who petitioned Blackburn Council have been unsuccessful in their bid to have fences built around their sheltered accommodation. Tenants in Cambridge House said the fences were necessary to keep out children who they claim are causing
SOME people will go to great lengths to help others. Take Ronnie Sainty. He's driven a distance equivalent to once around the Earth, ferrying West Craven folk to and from hospitals in nearby towns. Ronnie, of Barnoldswick, is the longest serving driver
ST Helens Mayor, Councillor Alex Worth, will walk a short distance along the Sankey Canal in aid of charity, before having to dash off to another mayoral engagement. The Mayor will start off a charity walk along the 15 mile length of the Sankey Canal,
ALLERGY agony aunt Claire Fretwell has turned to the Aztecs for help in developing some of the new recipes which feature in her latest book. The Ribble Valley allergy-buster, who bases her national and international work from a shop in Berry Lane, Longridge
WHEN Leigh Miners ARLFC stalwart Bob Dowling retired from playing he put as much effort and enthusiasm into the organisational side as he did in his robust play. And that spirit was rewarded when ex-Leigh and Great Britain forward Mick Martyn and veteran
THE mobile breast screening unit will be in Safeways car park during September and all local women invited for screening are being advised to attend. Breast screening involves a simple X-ray which can help to find changes in the breast before any symptoms
THE manager of the Late Shop in Rainford was left in a state of severe shock after he was attacked by two gun-wielding teenagers who burst into the shop last Saturday, August 17. The incident happened at 9.20pm in the Church Road store where the 49-year
VICTIM Support workers in St Helens East Area are aiming to make the public more aware of the service offered to the victims of crime. The group has planned an open meeting on Thursday, September 5, starting at 6.45pm in the library at Newton-le-Willows
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD A FURTHER, and well-merited accolade has been heaped upon the technical wizard who was known throughout Hollywood as 'The Quiet Little Englishman' - a title first conferred upon him by his legendary pal, Al Jolson. The late George
J P VERNON denies that the Labour Party has accepted the free market consensus forged by Mrs Thatcher (Letters, August 14). If that is so, why doesn't Tony Blair say that a Labour government would abandon the free market economy and go back to a Socialist
A WOMAN drove while over the alcohol limit to avoid being sexually assaulted, a Manchester court heard. Burnley school teacher Debra Ridehalgh was arrested on a car-drinks charge when she shot through two red lights on Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, at half
DODGE City is coming closer with every passing day. And just in case anyone out there harbours thoughts that this column might be just a tad domesday orientated, let me explain. Earlier this week, uniformed police officers in Blackburn became the first
A BRITISH Aerospace boss who went to a colleague's house after he failed to turn up for work found him dead in his car, an inquest heard. Huntington's disease sufferer Robert McGee gassed himself to death at the garage of his home in Knuzden Brook, Knuzden
THERE was no disguising the delight on the face of brave brain tumour victim and Saints' fan Christopher Barnes when he met Saints' skipper Bobbie Goulding at the club's open day. Young Christopher received another morale booster when his hero presented
A CONMAN stole a vulnerable elderly woman's purse after tricking his way into her home over the weekend. The incident occurred at 3.30pm on Saturday, August 17, when the women, who was in her eighties, was sat in her front garden in Houghton Close, Newton
TOP chefs Nigel Haworth and Paul Heathcote will be battling to put East Lancashire on the gourmet map when they compete in the cookery Olympics. They will both by vying for the gold medal spot when they take on the cream of Britain's chefs in the final
Saints 68 Sheffield Eagles 2 CHAMPIONS-elect and not just pretenders to the Super League throne! That was the inescapable conclusion following this staggering 12-try slaughter in the sun by table-toppers Saints. Admittedly there is the daunting final
A TALENTED student on attachment to Pilkington Automotive Europe has scored a double by winning the finals of two top industry competitions. Lucy-Marie Sharpe (19) won the North West final of this year's Engineering Council's Young Engineers For Britain
NURSERY school headteacher Kath Lonsdale is saying goodbye to her charges just days after getting a glowing report from inspectors who visited the school. Mrs Lonsdale has been the head of Rosehill Nursery School, Burnley, for 11 years. She is leaving
DARWEN followed up an excellent weekend victory at Maine Road with another win away from home aginst derby rivals Rossendale at Dark Lane. Surface conditions meant this North West Counties' League First Division game was not pretty. But Darwen adapted
FROM the moment Martin Hulme beat the Colne defence and unleashed a perfect strike in the ninth minute, Ramsbottom were in control of this North West Counties' League Second Division encounter. Colne's only goal came from a Phil Rose own goal in the 41st
PARAMEDICS tried desperately to revive a young man found slumped in a lift in a block of flats last night. However, the 27-year-old man, who has not been named, was pronounced dead on arrival at Blackburn Royal Infirmary. Police were called to the Trinity
THE question which everyone was asking - did he fall or was he pushed? - was answered today by Kenny Dalglish himself. He clearly admits he got a little nudge. But, while the talk of "crisis" is in the air - at least in the national media - I know for
WORRIED parents are demanding a play area because they fear a child will be killed playing on a busy road. Residents in Clarendon Road East, Blackburn, have sent a petition containing 115 signatures to the council. They say the lack of facilities for
POLICE in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale are to be merged in a giant new independent division. The change, aimed at making the force more efficient, will probably mean more bobbies on the beat. But it also means that Colne police station will lose its
THE stars are coming out to face the might of ... the super Citizen football team! Champion charity event organiser Tony Cartwright has rallied round a feast of TV and sporting celebrities to entertain in a charity football match against the Citizen's
BURNLEY'S new East Stand will not be opening its doors for Saturday's Second Division game with Walsall or the midweek clash with Shrewsbury Town. Now stand contactors, Lincoln-based Linpave, could face a hefty cash penalty after failing to meet the deadline
A CAR crossed the carriageway and collided with three other vehicles in a smash that brought chaos to rush-hour traffic last night. Police said it was remarkable that no-one had been seriously injured in the pile-up, despite one driver having to be cut
TOP aero-space engineering know-how will bring job security and business contracts worth at least £21 million to Burnley and Pendle. The work involves providing components for the new RAF Orion 2000 maritime patrol aircraft, and could lead to greater
Solvent cloud forces golfers to flee course GOLFERS were evacuated off the fairways in Heysham on Monday after a cloud of solvent fumes descended over the area from Solrec chemical works. The cloud wafted over the golf course at about 10am and left it
CALLS for safer roads in the West End of Morecambe are getting louder after the tragic death of a pensioner in the resort last week. Minnie Murphy, 86, was rushed to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary after she was involved in an accident with a car at the
