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Stories for 10 February 2000
Accrington News
Firm folds with over £1m debts
A COMPANY which owns a failed East Lancashire nightspot has been put into liquidation with debts of more than £1million. more...
Ada joins the stars on celebrity TV quiz
SUPERGRAN Ada Gibson is set to make her second TV appearance - giving clues to celebrities on a BBC game show hosted by Jonathan Ross. more...
Old folk urged to ensure they claim enough cash
HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope is urging elderly people in his constituency to ensure they claim the extra pension cash that is being made available by the government from April. more...
Sex assault claim now withdrawn
POLICE investigating an alleged sexual assault in Mercer Park, Clayton-le-Moors, say they are satisfied that no attack took place. more...
Inquest opened
AN inquest has been opened into the death of Doreen Yates, 75, of Mallard Place, Oswaldtwistle, who died on Saturday after being involved in a road accident in Union Road, on January 12. more...
Blackburn Business
'Friend' retires after a long stretch...
WORKERS have said farewell to an old friend. more...
Taxing times info for free
BUSINESSES are being invited to a date with the tax man. more...
Coating firm expands
A RESIN firm is creating new jobs in an expansion move. Dupox, which manufactures products for coating walls and floors, has relocated from Church to the Furthergate Industrial Park in Blackburn. more...
Whitbread selling pubs off
BREWING and leisure group Whitbread is selling off pubs it bought last year as part of its £730million takeover of rival Swallow. more...
Blackburn Leisure
LANCASHIRE SCHOOLS' CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Wilsons Playing Fields, Clayto-le-Moors more...
First North Western Trains League Reserve Division North
COLNE RES 0 CLITHEROE RES 7 more...
ENGLISH SCHOOLS FA NORTH WEST ALDER CUP SECOND ROUND
Blackburn Schools under 15s 2 Macclesfield and District Schools under 15s 1 more...
MINI RUGBY UNION CHALLENGE MATCH: Blackburn RUFC under 12s 42 Calder Vale under 12s 19
A HAT-TRICK of tries by centre Dean Samouelle guided Blackburn to a thrilling 42-19 win over the previoulsy unbeaten Calder Vale. more...
De Lacy trio hit by bad breaks
A TITLE-chasing Memorial Sunday League side have suffered a severe blow after losing three key players with broken legs in the space of two weeks - and two of them in one match! more...
BLACKBURN ROVERS ADIDAS PREDATOR SIX-A-SIDE:
Blackburn and Clitheroe schools' heat more...
YEAR EIGHT NETBALL FRIENDLY: Park High School 13 Fearns High School 8
PARK HIGH maintained their unbeaten record in an entertaining and hard fought victory against Fearns High. more...
TEN YEARS AGO: Post plan fears
PLANS to centralise parcel deliveries for Pendle in Blackburn came under fire from councillors. more...
FIVE YEARS AGO: Fan-tastic exhibition
A FOOTBALL memorabilia exhibition was scoring with visitors to Clitheroe's Platform Gallery, including Clarets striker Liam Robinson. more...
Events in East Lancashire on Friday, February 11th
The Johnson String Quartet, Darwen Library Theatre, Knott Street, 7.30pm. more...
Blackburn News
Police HQ money goes missing
POLICE have revealed two members of staff at their headquarters have been suspended, after it was discovered a large amount of cash has gone missing. more...
School reunion
EX-PUPILS of Notre Dame High School are invited to a reunion at Blakey's bar, Blackburn, on Friday, March 3. more...
City drugs link to town's crime
CROOKS operating in an East Lancashire town are linked to Manchester's violent underworld drug gangs, police have revealed. more...
Frypan fire
FOOD left frying in a pan sparked a blaze at a house in Cross Barn Grove, Darwen. more...
Hoardings ad plan
TWO large "wave" style multi advertisement hoardings look set to be erected near Blackburn Rovers' car park. more...
Lee finds trouble going back to nature!
An East Lancashire actor bares all for a new BBC series more...
Getting a trifle tipsy
AS a youngster I always used to think trifle was something grannies ate for tea when they couldn't find their false teeth. more...
Proud to be a little Englander
JOHN Lewis's view of the English (Letters, January 28) is as convoluted as Jack Straw's is degenerate. Whether he likes it or not, he is British, as, in the same vein, he is European. more...
Light 'show' puzzle
CONCERNING Nick Cooper's complaints (Letters, January 26), about excess lighting at Blackburn Rovers' Youth Academy at Brockhall. I live a mile or two away and we look out across the Ribble Valley in that direction. more...
Frank, lecher to perfection
REGARDING your 'Looking Back' article on the Accrington Hippodrome and comedian Frank Randle's effort to save it in 1954 (LET, January 24), I worked at the theatre in 1946-47 in a second job at nights, from 6-10.30pm, six nights a week. more...
Bill beaten by filibuster
WHAT has happened to the Government's promise to ban fur factory farming? more...
Worms are turning
JOHN Lewis (Letters, January 28) is proud to be Welsh. He seems, however, happy to live in England and presumably to work here. more...
Nobody worse than Welsh...
JOHN Lewis (Letters, January 28) should come off it, there is nobody worse than the Welsh for nationalism. They don't want to speak English and would not have the road signs in English if they could get away with it. more...
Labour needs to dig into war chest for NHS
.PERHAPS the most startling thing about the findings today of the National Beds Inquiry is not that the NHS has tens of thousands fewer than a decade ago - and too few overall - but that this kind of investigation had never been done before on a nationwide basis. more...
What's up doc.com
Val Cowan's Web World more...
Pupils are inspired
PUPILS were inspired by the watercolours of the artist JMW Turner when they took part in a poetry writing workshop at the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery. more...
Women speak up for improved health
WOMEN have been able to give their views on how health services in Blackburn with Darwen could be improved. more...
Rail boss listens as users let off steam
A MAGISTRATE who has pleaded not guilty to a charge of being drunk and disorderly on a train was among rail users who let off steam at a question and answer session. more...
Thieves in a sports car drove away with dryer
POLICE have issued descriptions of three thieves who stole a £60 tumble dryer from an outhouse. Detectives believe the thieves who stole the Whirlpool machine were travelling in a red sports car. more...
Appeal tops £200,000
THE East Lancashire Hospice's £1.3million appeal has topped £200,000 this week, after a year of fund-raising. more...
Jazz giants' show is scoop for school
SIX of the biggest names in jazz will play a concert in East Lancashire tomorrow. more...
Bigger police force will put more bobbies on the beat
SCORES of new bobbies will soon be patrolling crime hotspots across East Lancashire thanks to extra funding from the Home Office. more...
Saturday voting gets green light
PLANS to break with tradition and introduce voting in council elections on Saturdays have been given the green light by councillors. more...
Strong pound threat to jobs
UNION leaders are seeking urgent talks with steel giant Corus over the future of East Lancashire jobs after a company executive refused to rule out British closures to reduce the impact of the strong pound. more...
Police seek baby shop thieves
THREE youths aged between 10 and 19 are wanted by police following a theft from the One Stop Baby Shop in Penny Street, Blackburn. more...
Cleaners raided pub's till
SISTERS Michelle and Rachel Lawson cleaned out a cash drawer when they should have been cleaning the Jubilee pub. more...
Sorry Al, it all ends in jeers
Neil Bramwell, Sports Editor, on why Shearer should be booed more...
Sadie safe at last
A STRAY dog which had been wandering the streets for more than four months has found a new loving home. more...
Don't be fooled by bogus rag mags
SHOPPERS were today warned to beware of bogus "rag mag" sellers in East Lancashire's town centres. more...
Youths stole from store
TWO teenagers were spotted stealing a handbag containing cash and a mobile phone from the Benetton shop in Town Hall Street, Blackburn. more...
New canal gates locked into place
NEW lock gates on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal were spectacularly hoisted into place by a 20-ton crane. more...
Probe called off
POLICE have dropped an investigation into an alleged rape, after a 16-year-old girl told detectives the attack never took place. more...
Buggie on down to borrow a cot
A SPECIAL scheme has been launched which will allow childminders to borrow buggies and cots. more...
Charity lottery
THE public is being urged to get involved in a charity lottery which boasts a £1,000 jackpot. more...
Needles and pens for diabetics
DIABETES sufferers across East Lancashire are set to benefit from the Government's decision to make pen needles and re-usable insulin pens available on prescription. more...
Blackburn Sport
Clarets seek away day boost
CLARETS chief Stan Ternent takes his in-form side to Bournemouth on Saturday admitting that Burnley's promotion hopes are riding on an upturn in their away form. more...
Sunderland ponder move for Rovers star
KEITH Gillespie could be offered a chance to return to the North East - with the Premiership's surprise packet Sunderland. more...
SOCCER: Ref backs rule change
A TOP line referee from East Lancashire is urging football's governing bodies to bring in the 10-yard rule across the board in a bid to clean up the game. more...
ICE HOCKEY: Spirit boosts Hawks
BLACKBURN Hawks forward Dan Mackriel reckons that team spirit has been the key to the team's recent revival. Mackriel has starred in a memorable few weeks for the Hawks that has seen them pick up several important wins to boost thier promotion credentials. more...
LOCAL CRICKET: East Lancs CC hear Henderson tour boost
A SOUTH African A team tour to the West Indies which threatened to rob East Lancs of the services of professional Claude Henderson has now been scrapped. more...
NON LEAFUE SOCCER: Stanley in for striker
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman is hoping to sign striker Gerrard Courtney from Southport in time for Saturday's game against Flixton. more...
SWIMMING: Impressive Stacey
ACCRINGTON swimmer Stacey Houldsworth yesterday clocked up two more impressive finishes to go with the bronze medal she won in Berlin at the weekend. more...
Sunderland ponder move for Gillespie
KEITH Gillespie could be offered a chance to return to the North East - with the Premiership's surprise packet Sunderland. more...
Ternent seeks away day boost
CLARETS chief Stan Ternent takes his in-form side to Bournemouth on Saturday admitting that Burnley's promotion hopes are riding on an upturn in their away form. more...
New bid to keep Reid as link with Rovers goes on
PETER Reid's name continues to be linked with Ewood Park as a future manager of Blackburn Rovers. more...
Bolton Business
Arthur cleans up for Hawaii trip
SUCCESSFUL franchisee Arthur Foster won a trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. Mr Foster and his wife Myra went to Maui for the Chem-Dry international convention after Finesse Chem-Dry won four UK awards for outstanding business achievements. The carpet and upholstery cleaning business has boomed in the four years since Mr Foster established it in the Bury Business Centre in Kay Street. more...
Investors sew seeds of success!
A LOCAL textile company says the Investors in People culture is making sure success is sewn up. more...
June opening for Patak's £12m plant
THE Indian food processing factory being built by Patak's in Leigh is scheduled to open in June. more...
Council offer cut-price credit checks
BOLTON Council is offering cheaper credit checks in a February promotion. more...
Express growth for Amtrak
AMTRAK Express Parcels, who have a depot in Bolton, are forecasting strong growth during this year. more...
Bolton Leisure
What's on ion and around Bolton, Friday, 11.2.00
LEISURE, SPORT AND KEEP FIT BOLTON Excel, Lower Bridgeman Street, tel: 334456: 7.30am-10.30pm. more...
Bolton News
Archaic stance
MR Gibson, ex-Boltonian suggests that homosexual people should conduct their unnatural habits in the privacy of their own home. more...
But it can be a bit of a giggle
VALENTINE'S Day is looming but do children know what it's all about? more...
From the BEN files
25 YEARS AGO more...
Decision day for blackspot traffic lights
BOLTON'S highways chiefs were today being asked to give the go ahead to traffic lights being installed at a "deathtrap" junction. more...
`It's not cool to take drugs'
A POP star dropped in at a local school to hammer home an anti-drugs message. more...
BT drive Ian up the pole over line fault
A PATIENT who left hospital after a hernia operation thought it would be good to talk to nurses by phone as he recovered. more...
Brainwashed by the ads
SADLY I have to disagree with Mr Derbyshire on licences and BBC. The BBC has deteriorated and wastes lots of our money on fat salaries and fees for third raters! more...
Tragic parents await answers
AN independent inquiry into the Alder Hey Hospital organ tragedy has opened. more...
Opencast inquiry welcomed
A DATE for a public inquiry into plans for an opencast mine has been set. more...
OPINION: Heartfelt
WE echo the words of Bolton's Deputy Mayor, Cllr Peter Birch who has described as "wonderful news" the fact that the Government is to make pen needles and re-usable insulin pens available on prescription for the first time. more...
Girl power pedals top cycling club into new era
THE fair sex hasn't just made a mark in Bolton's biggest cycling club - it has taken over the reins! more...
All in the line of duty for Matt
A BOLTON soldier has been keeping vital lines of communication open between German troops and Kosovo peacekeepers. more...
The search is on to find Europe's perfect person
EURO MP Gary Titley and Bury Metro Chief Executive, Dennis Taylor, have joined forces in a search for Bury's potential "Young European of the Year." more...
Historians joining museum campaign
TURTON Local History Society is supporting the growing battle to save the cash-strapped Salford Mining Museum from closure. more...
No luxuries
IN REPLY to Mr Howarth's letter in the BEN on Wednesday, February 2, not all pensioners are fortunate enough to be able to afford to play bingo. more...
Steeplejack Fred puts UP a chimney!
STEEPLEJACK Fred Dibnah has built what he reckons will be Bolton's last tall chimney - in his back garden. more...
We helped pave road to victory
ELDERLY residents in Egerton were today celebrating victory after persuading the council to mend a road so bad it has made them prisoners in their own home. more...
Bedsit land revamp plan
BOLTON'S bedsit land, branded "the pits" by one councillor, is set for a dramatic transformation. more...
Clean up
Message for Peter Kay: If you cleaned you act up on television, we could watch you earlier and the kids could join us. more...
Recruiting drive 'short changed'
JACK Straw has given Greater Manchester Police less than half the extra cash they asked for to boost numbers. more...
New homes rage
BUILDERS have moved in to bulldoze a Horwich green area and build houses - sparking fury among neighbours and the concern of councillors. more...
New lead in OAP killing
ALMOST two years after the brutal killing of a Bolton pensioner, police are following up "a very strong lead". more...
Pupils prepare for African adventure
A GROUP OF 16 intrepid adventurers from a Bolton secondary school are preparing themselves for the trip of a lifetime. more...
Pen prescriptions delight ex-mayor
A DIABETIC Bolton councillor today welcomed news that the Government is to make pen needles and re-usable insulin pens available on prescription for the first time. more...
Vandal hit church gets a cash boost
CHURCHGOERS are fighting back against vandals who wrecked their place of worship. more...
Council pays out for drug tag blunder
BOLTON Council has told a local government watchdog that it has offered to pay a tenant £100 for "distress and embarrassment" after a possession order was pinned to his front door. more...
Many thanks
I WOULD like to thank Jane Davies and her friend Joanne, for their help recently when I needed someone, and assure them both that what they did was special to me, and that they both are special. more...
What's the reality?
THIS IS in reply to the article (BEN, February 4), by Julie Freer headed: New firm steps into business park plan - Singing Clough'. more...
OPINION: The bedsit blackspot
IT'S excellent news that Bolton's bedsit land is to be transformed. more...
Bleating farmers
SO, the farmers are bleating (BEN, last week). My agricultural mentor taught me to judge a farmer by his enclosures". The local farmers fail to measure up, by this yardstick and most of the stone walls have been simply left to collapse; hedges too are frequently outgrown and gappy. more...
Bolton Sport
CRICKET: Rachael aims to bowl them over
A 13-year-old Atherton girl has reached the final of young female cricketer of the year. Rachael Walsh will travel down to the game's headquarters at Lord's early next week and will be the youngest competitor when girls from all over the country pit their cricketing talents against each other. more...
Sam has to dig deep
ALLAN Johnston's hopes of a happy return to St Andrew's could be scuppered by an injury scare that threatens to stretch even further Wanderers' already meagre playing resources. The Scotland winger on loan from Sunderland, who played 10 games in a two month stint at Birmingham earlier in the season, picked up a slight hamstring injury in Tuesday's 1-0 win at Port Vale and is rated extremely doubtful. more...
Burnley News
Soccer star in court
BURNLEY striker Andy Payton (pictured) will face trial before magistrates on April 11. more...
Passenger hurt
A CITROEN Zantia driven by Riaz Khawaja, 27, of Rosehill Road, Burnley, collided with a Rover Metro, driven by Valerie Bradshaw, 43, of Park Avenue, at the junction of Manchester Road and Rosehill Road, last night. Neither driver was injured but the passenger of the Metro, Eileen Nutter, 70, was taken to Burnley General Hospital with whiplash. more...
By-pass collision
A CAR and lorry collided on the Shuttleworth Hall link road, at the end of the Padiham by-pass, yesterday. The Peugeot 405 was driven by Yvonne Townsend, 40, who was taken to Burnley Hospital with minor back injuries and shock. more...
10th birthday celebration
PAST and present pupils and parents met at St Leonard's Primary School, Padiham, to celebrate its 10th anniversary with cake and a photo exhibition. more...
Hotel boss stole from employers
AN "overworked" and "stressed" hotel boss who helped himself to his employers' cash and food to reward himself for putting in long hours may be facing jail. more...
Probe call into market bust-up
A COUNCIL chief today called for an independent inquiry into a town hall bust-up with market tenants which could cost council taxpayers £500,000 in compensation. more...
£53,000 theft on post office
MORE than £50,000 was netted during a raid on a Burnley post office - less than three months after a gang grabbed £100,000 in a similar incident on the same block. more...
Banned driver moved car
A BANNED driver spotted by police "just moving" a car has been sent to prison for six months. more...
In 21st century it's all done Telematically
MEMBERS of Daneshouse Community Centre, Burnley, celebrated their move into the 21st century by introducing two new projects in one day. more...
Globetrotting musician to play at homecoming concert
A BURNLEY man who has entertained audiences around the world with his musical ability has been invited back to his home town to perform. more...
Retail lesson in store for kids
PUPILS from several of Burnley's infant and junior schools will see a more interesting side to their maths lessons when they swap their classrooms for a supermarket. more...
Tackle tacky problem of gum plea by MP
ACTION to stop the scourge of chewing gum stuck under tables, ground into seats and dropped in the street is being demanded by an East Lancashire MP. more...
Healthy eating, healthy heart
A MAJOR Burnley employer has decided to take its employees' health to heart to mark Valentine's Day. more...
Thieves take 60 packs of bacon
THIEVES brought home the bacon after a raid on the Kwik Save store in Accrington Road, Burnley. more...
Clitheroe News
Convicted badger digger spared jail
A FORESTRY worker convicted of digging for badgers has escaped a jail sentence, but a magistrate has warned others tempted to do the same that they not be so lucky. more...
MP on attack over water works
MP Nigel Evans has launched a bitter attack on North-West Water for cutting off supplies to towns and villages in his constituency. more...
Young team's French is trés bien
FIVE pupils from Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe used their French skills to win a Young Enterprise contest held in Brussels. more...
Minister says MP is disgraceful in debate on illegal immigrants
RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has clashed with a government minister over illegal immigrants claiming bogus benefits. more...
Sculpture project
PRIMARY school children took part in a village millennium project with the help of sculptor Fiona Bowley. more...
Colne News
'More chaos from by-pass' warning
CAMPAIGNERS have warned the controversial Colne by-pass could increase traffic in some parts of the town centre. more...
Talks over future of prestige firm
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice is to meet Rolls Royce shop stewards at Westminster next week to discuss the future of the company and its Barnoldswick plant in particular. more...
Jail threat over forged tenners
A DAD found to have counterfeit cash may end up in jail. more...
Darwen News
Thugs threaten gays' supporter
EAST Lancashire-born peer Baroness Massey of Darwen (pictured) has told how she has been threatened because of her support for the repeal of Section 28. more...
City drugs link to town's crime
CROOKS operating in an East Lancashire town are linked to Manchester's violent underworld drug gangs, police have revealed. more...
Burglar is caged for 18 months
A DARWEN man who failed to take his chances to stay on the straight and narrow has been sent to prison for 18 months. more...
Bathroom blaze
FIRE destroyed a bathroom under renovation at a house in Accrington Road, Blackburn. more...
Nelson News
Nurseries face axe in county review
TWO Pendle nursery schools, named among the best in the country, face possible closure or amalgamation as part of a Lancashire-wide review of nursery education. more...
Priest came face to face with burglar
A PRIEST came face to face with an intruder in his kitchen after the back door of his house was kicked in. more...
Land sale green light for new mosque plan
A PROPOSED new mosque in the heart of Brierfield took a step nearer to becoming reality after councillors recommended land should be sold to the mosque committee. more...
MPs to vote on minimum wage increase?
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has stepped up his campaign to get the national minimum wage increased on April 1 by calling for a vote of his Labour MP colleagues. more...
Views on news are sought
COMMUNITY groups in Pendle, from Scouts and Guides to Women's Institutes, are being urged to take part in a survey to find out if the area needs a community newspaper. more...
Worries over impact of teachers' pay increase
LIBERAL Democrats in Pendle are urging Lancashire County Council not to let the higher-than-expected teachers' pay settlement hit education. more...
Riders raise £550 for hospice
FUND-RAISERS who saddled up for a 10-mile horse ride in Pendle in aid of a local charity handed over the proceeds at a Nelson stables. more...
Noisy man bound over
A FLAT tenant who annoyed his neighbours with loud music was told by a magistrate he had been a "wretched nuisance." more...
Rawtenstall News
Council vermin plague probe
HEALTH and safety officers are investigating claims by council staff that an East Lancashire council building is infested with vermin. more...
Man held girl over abduction attempt
A MAN was arrested in Rawtenstall last night in connection with the attempted abduction of a 12-year-old schoolgirl last month. more...
Diamond day for the couple with love at first sight
IT is almost 70 years since Harry Fletcher first set eyes on his wife Hilda, but he says he hasn't let her out of his sight since. more...
Cash donation wings its way to hospice
A DONATION of £2,500 has winged its way to Rossendale Hospice from the Royal Pigeon Racing Association. more...
Mario goes Chinese
CHINESE New Year was greeted in multi-national style in Bacup. more...
Keeping vandals at bay
A HEAD teacher is asking neighbours to watch out for vandals after pupils created a wildlife corner at St Joseph's RC Primary School, Stacksteads. more...
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