TWO years after the kidnap of Blackburn student Paul Wells and three other Westerners, relatives tied yellow ribbons around a tree in a gesture of hope. "I ask God to give us strength, courage and patience so that we can find our beloved ones," said Julie
A HUSBAND carried out a threat to hang himself when his wife left him, an inquest heard. James Croasdale, 32, had told wife Christine several times he would commit suicide if she left. After a holiday where the couple had constantly rowed, she left him
MEYER International, the giant cookware firm which bought the Prestige brand, is set to save some of the jobs lost following the collapse of the Burnley-based company. The development came as workers leaving the Prestige factory for the last time yesterday
JONATHAN Fielding faces one of the big matches of the season tomorrow ... followed two days later by one of the big matches of his life. The likeable Clitheroe professional leads his players into action against Great Harwood at Cliffe Park, knowing that
OFFENCES in Blackburn's major crime blackspots have plummeted in the face of a police crackdown on crooks. And local criminals are being warned that things are going to get even tougher after Blackburn with Darwen Council announced its own plans to tackle
DALE Benkenstein will seek more medical advice when he makes a flying visit home to South Africa next week, on cricket business for Natal. But the popular Burnley professional, again defying the pain from a persistent back injury this weekend, aims to
BRUSHING aside the bystander's request for an autograph, Mark Waugh bullishly made his way onto the Australian team coach on the eve of the third Test. At that moment, he looked like he would no more consider signing a piece of paper for a hopeful fan
REGARDING your report 'Fury Over East 17 Gig' (LET June 21). The date originally earmarked for this concert did not include Brian Harvey in the line-up and any fury that resulted was caused by your interpretation of the facts. Mr Harvey's subsequent re-instatement
I HAD always thought that retirement was a time to sit back and take things easier. Trust Labour to shatter that illusion in one fell swoop. There is no doubt state pensions will be squeezed hard in years to come. That's why many of us contribute to private
AFTER the centenary celebrations of Darwen Tower, I waited all week for some real show in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph of what took place in Darwen. It is really disgusting that a few bits and pictures were shown when the celebrations were for a Tower
A £610,000 highways improvement package aims to put the poorest area of Burnley on the road to a better future. Council chiefs aim to boost the Daneshouse area with a £3.1 million housing renewal programme. But they say the need for better access and
HEART-SWAP patient Frank Bradshaw who was given the gift of life by an anonymous donor has celebrated the third anniversary of his operation. The 61-year-old, of Branch Road, Lower Darwen, was given the new lease of life in a heart transplant at Wythenshawe
A SIX-YEAR research project into the life of a pioneering Clitheroe photographer has exposed an incredible legacy of Victorian picture postcards. And Blackburn photographer John Barry's fascination with the man's life and work has led to a trans-Atlantic
PLANS to build a special care unit next to an existing nursing home have been blocked by councillors because of the effect it would have on the area. Health care firm Ashbourne submitted a smaller scheme for its site at Brierfield House Nursing Home,
A COLLEGE lecturer from Burnley who saved a woman from drowning in a fast-flowing Carlisle river is to receive a top life-saving award. Non-swimmer Stephen Train, 39, who lives and works in Carlisle, has been awarded a Royal Humane Society testimonial
THREE young entrepreneurs have set up what they believe is the first funeral business to be helped by the Prince of Wales. Bell's Funeral Service, which opens officially in Railway Road, Darwen, on Monday, was set up with a grant and loan from the Prince's
A TEENAGER was beaten up in a vicious attack by baseball-bat wielding thugs. Terry McDonough, 16, was on his way home from work when he was confronted by two car loads of youths, aged between 17 and 19 years, in Audley, Blackburn. They demanded cash,
A PACKAGE of road safety measures is to be drawn up in a bid to tackle traffic problems in Colne. A list of possible work in the Horsfield area of the town will be put to the county surveyor to see how practical and affordable it is. The move follows
MONEY could prove a stumbling block if Burnley decide to go all out for Chris Waddle as the next Turf Moor manager. For it's only a matter of months since the former England star turned down the offer of the manager's job at West Bromwich Albion after
ROY Hodgson looked ahead to the new season and declared - it's boom time in the Premiership. Blackburn Rovers' new boss won't make promises he might not be able to keep, but he clearly believes there is both the ambition and the capacity at Ewood to do
ENVIRONMENT minister Michael Meacher will see first hand how Burnley is "going green" when the town hosts a two-day conservation conference later this year. The council, which boasts "the country's greenest town" award, has linked with the Community Development
A MAN died instantly after plunging 30ft from a footbridge on to the bonnet of a car travelling along a busy dual carriageway. Graham Michael Dunn, 32, who lived with his parents in Rogersfield, Langho, until 12 months ago, left his family's new home
LABOUR leaders say Chancellor Gordon Brown's budget will help them plug huge holes in Lancashire's education spending. The county's ruling Labour group welcomed Mr Brown's announcement that he plans to pump billions into schools and the health service
THREE hoteliers and a restaurateur from the Ribble Valley have scooped top awards in the catering industry's equivalent of the Oscars. Marjorie and Steven Doherty, the couple behind the buy-out of the historic Spread Eagle Hotel, Sawley, were named Pub
A STORM of protest has greeted news that controversial plans for wind farms in the Ribble Valley could get the go-ahead under the new Labour government. The proposals for local beauty spots are more likely to be approved under the new government, Ribble
IT was a day of mixed emotions as the last Burnley Prestige workers left the factory for the final time - and went for a beer with the woman who sacked them. Receiver Sue Watson bought drinks and food for the remaining 70 employees as the curtain came
GUARDSMAN Asis Asad (LET, June 27) is to be congratulated on his resolution and determination to succeed as a Scots Guardsman where others failed miserably. His parents must be proud of his career success. I wish him all the best and an enjoyable Army
TO a small boy during the late 1940s, Hong Kong was just another stamp in the 'Empire' album. Later, 'Hong Kong' appeared on cheap toys and cheap clothing. Every Friday evening, shire horses from 'Bullough's' and the LMS Railway would clip-clop over the
A ROBBER who held up staff at an estate agency may be responsible for a string of similar attacks across Lancashire and Yorkshire, police said today. The man walked into the Town and Country and Halifax Building Society, Town Road, Croston, near Chorley
A EUROPEAN award will put Rossendale on the international map, according to council leader John McManus. Rossendale is to receive the European Flag of Honour from the 40-member Council of Europe for its contribution to international links through its
FEATHERS flew when a crowd of cowboys and Indians popped over for a pow-wow wedding, wild west style. Scores of guests in traditional country and western costume brought Accrington town centre to a standstill when they attended the marriage ceremony of
