Archive

  • Why won't they listen to the people

    PLAGUED by vandals and thieves using a ginnel near their homes that has become the haunt of drug addicts leaving dirty needles behind, residents of a Blackburn housing estate must feel a new bane afflicts their lives - the council's apparent disdain for

  • First year a success for forum

    A GROUP set up for women in Blackburn and Darwen has celebrated a successful first 12 months. The Blackburn with Darwen Women's Forum has around 30 members. The group has discussed a range of items such as child protection, health, women's safety and

  • Thanks for support

    THANK you to all who supported the charity dance held in St Francis' Parish Hall, Feniscliffe, Blackburn, on Saturday, December 2. The event was very successful and a cheque for £195 has been forwarded to the East Lancashire Hospice. A recipe has been

  • Throwing out our history

    LIKE the hundreds of women cited by Barbara Riding (Letters, December 19), I, too, attended Blackburn High School for Girls in the 1940s and I am very sad to hear that the building on Preston New Road is to be demolished. I spent three phases of my life

  • Samaritans on standby

    IN THIS Christmas and New Year holiday season is upon us, I would like to remind your readers about 24-hour, seven-days-a-week support offered by the Samaritans. We are a non-religious organisation offering support and a listening ear to people passing

  • Woman killed in accident

    A WOMAN, aged 71, died after an accident in Tyldesley Road, Atherton. Nancy Baxter, of Croft Avenue, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital yesterday afternoon where she died. She suffered serious head, pelvis and leg injuries after being involved in

  • In the snow lane! Warning as big freeze hits roads

    SNOW hit East Lancashire rush-hour traffic today as the white Christmas everyone had been waiting for finally arrived. Several inches fell across the area overnight and police warned drivers to stay off the roads because of the hazardous conditions. Many

  • SOCCER: Finnair Manchester League

    Town end host's unbeaten record ATHERTON Town will certainly be having a joyful Christmas after becoming the first side this season to inflict defeat on East Manchester. Town stay right on course for a Premier Division title charge of their own following

  • Settle down for the Matt-inee

    Down by the Riverside, with Phil Lloyd IT wasn't just terrestrial TV that offered the chance to see some old movies over Christmas. For over sixty cold, sterile, Boxing Day minutes, the bumper holiday crowd endured a Titanic duel (in length if not in

  • Souness 'no' to Maidana

    EWOOD chief Graeme Souness has closed the door on a big-money move for Argentinian centre back Julian Maidana. Reports in Argentina claimed Rovers had agreed a fee of £1 million for the 28-year-old defender, who spent a week on trial at Brockhall recently

  • Fifteen arrests in crime purge

    POLICE say their clampdown on trouble-makers and criminals will continue into the New Year. Police covering the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale division say some offenders are already facing a holiday period behind bars after ignoring warnings of the crackdown

  • Health trust boss looks forward to New Year improvements

    A HEALTH trust boss says the NHS has the chance of a bright, new future thanks to multi-million pound investments in East Lancashire hospitals. Burnley Health Trust chairman Brian Foster, in his end-of-year message, says that while Millennium year was

  • Shops complex to go up in lights

    A NEW shops complex in Pendle will soon see its name in lights, if councillors give a plan the go-ahead. Developer Barnfield Construction has applied for planning permission to erect an illuminated entrance sign at the North Valley Retail and Business

  • Frosty fines for ice stained screens

    CLEAR your car windscreen or be fined, warn police. Sgt Russ Gregory of the Pennine Division based at Colne said it was important in the interests of safety that people cleared their car of frosted up windscreens before driving off. He said: "If we see

  • Soldier killed in crash

    A TEENAGE soldier died and his friend was seriously injured when their car crashed into a garden wall early today. Roger Neil Fothergill, 17, of South Valley Drive, Colne, was driving his mother's blue Peugeot 106 in Cotton Tree Lane, Colne, when the

  • Five years ago

    THE big chill was digging its teeth in as freezing temperatures continued to send a shiver across East Lancashire. And forecasters predicted that the cold snap could run into the New Year with pensioners being advised to wrap up warm.

  • It's good morning Vietnam!

    A COMPANY boss has swapped East Lancashire for the Far East for his firm's 2001 corporate calendar. Simon Moyle, founder and president of Altham-based corporate clothing manufacturer Simon Jersey, used images from behind the bamboo curtain, taken by highly

  • Attacked MP slams Straw

    AN MP attacked by a shoplifter has hit out at Britain's crime problem, claiming it is bigger than the Home Office claims. Ribble Valley Conservative MP Nigel Evans accused Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw of underestimating the country's crime

  • Clarets boss in new link with Rovers ace Allison

    GOAL-SHY Burnley could be ready to renew their interest in Tranmere Rovers' transfer-listed striker Wayne Allison. Allison was one of a number of players linked with the Clarets at the start of the season. And with manager Stan Ternent desperate to bolster

  • Church organ saver is music to their ears

    A RARE church organ dating back almost 100 years is set to be preserved thanks to a grant to the tune of £20,000. Radcliffe Parish Church's centrepiece is a Hill Three Manual organ which began its career in the nave at York Minster. The historically valuable

  • Clarets boss in new link with Rovers ace Allison

    GOAL-SHY Burnley could be ready to renew their interest in Tranmere Rovers' transfer-listed striker Wayne Allison. Allison was one of a number of players linked with the Clarets at the start of the season. And with manager Stan Ternent desperate to bolster

  • Great effort is charity boost

    WORKERS from BAE Systems raised £1,000 by taking part in the Great North Run. Seven members of the Goshawk production team at Samlesbury, along with two other colleagues and two friends, completed the run in between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half hours

  • Unions landed £320m pay-outs

    UNIONS won £320 million in compensation over the past 12 months for workers who suffered illness or injury ranging from stress to road accidents, a new report revealed today. More than 54,650 cases were taken up by legal officers, including 2,700 where

  • Runners cut a dash

    HUNDREDS of runners took to the hills above Rossendale in fancy dress for the annual Whinberry Naze Dash. Rob Hope, of Pudsey, was first over the finishing line for the second year running after completing the four-mile fell race in 23 mins 39 secs. First

  • Mojo's working towards quality

    A HAIR salon has proved it is a cut above the rest by getting involved in a training that will lead to new qualifications for its dozen staff. Mojo Hair Design, in Sudell Cross, Blackburn, is taking part in the SAM (See, Action and Monitor) programme

  • Future of police units remains uncertain

    THE future of two Lancashire police units still hangs in the balance after an internal review of their services failed to reach a decision. The review of the Mounted Branch and the Underwater Search Unit, which is shared with Cumbria Police, was due to

  • Stolen presents in police grotto

    POLICE have urged anyone who had presents or property stolen in the run-up to Christmas to get in touch after raids recovered goods worth thousands of pounds. Detectives were prompted to issue the appeal just days after the Ainsworth family in Nuttall

  • Gifts joy for teen mum

    A FORMER trader has offered the entire contents of his old shop to a teenage mum whose home went up in smoke days before Christmas. Victoria Price, 19, feared she would spend the festive period sleeping on a sofa at her parents house with her two-year-old

  • Boom in county police recruits

    MORE than 700 people have said they would like to join the police in Lancashire as a result of a national advertising campaign. Figures released today show that with 712 inquiries Lancashire Constabulary has had the fifth highest number of requests in

  • In the snow lane! Warning as big freeze hits roads

    SNOW hit East Lancashire rush-hour traffic today as the white Christmas everyone had been waiting for finally arrived. Several inches fell across the area overnight and police warned drivers to stay off the roads because of the hazardous conditions. Many

  • SOCCER: Bolton linked with Summerbee

    BOLTON Wanderers are being linked with a new move for Sunderland contract rebel Nick Summerbee. Summerbee was at the Reebok on Boxing Day to watch Wanderers' 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Meanwhile, Bolton have handed midfield man Franck Passi a contract

  • ATHLETICS: Anne's tri-ing to take on the world

    ANNE Harwood is set to become Blackburn Road Runners' first international next summer after being selected for the Great Britain Triathlon Team in the World Championships. Anne, who lives on Whalley New Road, Blackburn will compete in Edmonton, Canada

  • Healthy start to 2001

    A NEW action group aimed at tackling the root causes of ill health is to be piloted in Radcliffe. The first meeting of the town's Area Board health sub-group will be held in January, but work has already begun on ensuring that Bury Council works hand

  • 2001: A sports odyssey

    Sports Editor Neil Bramwell takes a look into his crystal ball for a tongue-in-cheek look at the year ahead: January: With 85 minutes gone of their third round FA Cup tie at Fulham, and his side trailing 2-0, Alex Ferguson again withdraws Manchester United

  • It beggars belief

    WHILE I was out shopping in Burnley on Friday, I walked past McDonalds, only to stumble over a beggar requesting 'spare change.' As it is Christmas, I felt festive, and decided to hand over £1. I walked past the same spot two hours later and the beggar

  • Point of order over the biro

    IN one of your 'On This Day' snippets recently, it stated that "1946. The first ballpoint pen went on sale, invented by Hungarian Laslo Biro." Over the years, in various quizzes, I have seen the name Laslo Biro given as the answer to the question "Who

  • Council in a tight corner

    I HAVE spent two years fighting the council's proposals to close Church Street in Blackburn, because I believe that to do so may cost hundreds of existing jobs in the town centre. Councillors and council officers tried to tell me that if they close Church

  • Soldier killed in crash

    A TEENAGE soldier died and his friend was seriously injured when their car crashed into a garden wall early today. Roger Neil Fothergill, 17, of South Valley Drive, Colne, was driving his mother's blue Peugeot 106 in Cotton Tree Lane, Colne, when the

  • Icy plunge ahead

    IF the freezing weather continues competitors may have to break the ice before taking part in the annual Lee Dam New Year swim. This year's icy plunge at Lumbutts is on Sunday, January 7. Swimmers are asked to report at 1.30pm with the swim scheduled

  • Motor vandal's five-car spree

    A COUPLE had to abandon plans to travel to Burnley's away game at Barnsley when they opened their garage door to find their car had been trashed. It was one of five cars to be attacked in the Brunswick Street area of Nelson by a Christmas night vandal

  • Backing for 'through line'

    AN East Lancashire town fighting for better rail links has got the backing of its neighbours. Todmorden councillors have welcomed news that Burnley members are to lead the way in the fight for better rail links from the area. Burnley Council has agreed

  • Vandal attack ruins football treat

    FOOTBALL fans had to abandon plans to travel to an away game when they opened their garage door to find their car had been trashed. The car was one of five cars to be attacked in the Brunswick Street area of Nelson by vandals on Christmas night. Clarets

  • The Borrowers, Library Theatre, Manchester

    HAVE you ever put something down, a sewing needle or screw that held the thingamajig together, only to have it completely disappear? Then when you finally manage without it, it turns up again right under your nose? Well, you've had a run-in with the Borrowers

  • Ten years ago

    THREE more staff were made redundant at a long-established Blackburn firm. Lawnmower Specialists Ltd of Lower Darwen were in the hands of receivers who were hoping a buyer would step in to rescue the Sandy Lane company, which had already shed 11 workers

  • Everyone will be a winner

    LUCKY winners took home a variety of goodies in time for Christmas at a local fundraising event. The Autistic Society, based at Margaret House, Great Harwood, raised more than £300 after holding a Christmas raffle with prizes including hampers, whiskey

  • Long-serving doctor says farewell

    A DOCTOR who has served the Accrington community for the last 44 years is shortly to hang up his stethoscope for the last time. Dr Philip Quinn has worked at his GP practice on Blackburn Road since 1956 and for the last 22 years his partner there has

  • Night out couple in street attack

    A COUPLE enjoying a night out were brutally attacked by a man as they left a town centre bar. The man and his girlfriend were leaving the Arcade Bar in Warner Street, Accrington at about 2.15 yesterday morning when a man walked up to them and began to

  • Crews fear fire-raisers

    FIREFIGHTERS' lives are being put at risk by arsonsists who are constantly setting fire to a derelict East Lancashire mill. Fire chiefs at Accrington station say they fear for the lives of crews every time they are called out to blazes at the former Europlast

  • Women clock up a century at WI

    TWO members of Bolton-by-Bowland Women's Institute have between them clocked up more than 1,250 renditions of Jerusalem and, no doubt, made several hundred kilos of jam into the bargain. Jenny Wilkinson, of Church Gates, and Nancy Cornthwaite, of Closes

  • Calderstones secure unit homes move

    AN MP is demanding a debate on the housing development near the medium secure unit for mental patients at Calderstones. Ribble Valley tory Nigel Evans is calling on Parliamentary authorities to give him the chance to discuss the problems that this and

  • It's all happening in cyber space

    AT this time of year, as Craig from Big Brother sang in that tune that failed to set the chart alight ha, ha, ha. Er, sorry, where was I? Oh yes. At this time of year we like to look back and also look forward, so here, for the delight, delectation and

  • Souness 'no' to Maidana

    EWOOD chief Graeme Souness has closed the door on a big-money move for Argentinian centre back Julian Maidana. Reports in Argentina claimed Rovers had agreed a fee of £1 million for the 28-year-old defender, who spent a week on trial at Brockhall recently

  • Sparkling figures

    JEWELLERY chain Goldsmiths Group revealed a sparkling set of sales figures in the run-up to Christmas. Goldsmith, which has a store in Blackburn, said sales were up 13.6 per cent in total in the four weeks to Christmas Eve compared with the same period

  • Flying start for an ambition

    BUDDING entrepreneur Mark Elliott is "on-line" for business success thanks to advice and support from a business start-up programme. Mark, who owns and manages Rossendale Valley Computer Centre, Waterfoot, launched the venture two years ago. Since going

  • Girl's badge of bravery

    EVEN when brave Charlotte Fennell was desperately ill with a brain tumour, all she wanted to do was spend a normal Christmas with her family. The plucky nine-year-old pupil of St James-the-Less Primary School, Rawtenstall, clung on to life and dreamed

  • Net gain from healthy trout

    AFTER the excitement of celebrating Christmas and over-indulging on rich food and drink, many people find they start the New Year feeling fat and sluggish. A good way to get back on track to feeling fit and able to deal with whatever life throws at you

  • Eid youngsters hit the high spots

    YOUNGSTERS in East Lancashire headed for the bright lights of Manchester as the celebrations for the muslim religious festival of Eid got under way. In the past, the end of the month-long fasting period of Ramadan has seen major celebrations across the

  • Family's misery at being left in the cold

    A FAMILY'S woes about the lack of gas supply to their new home continued after a new card sent to them failed. Kim Maxwell received the card from Norweb Energi yesterday (Wednesday) and hoped it would be the end to her troubles. She put the card in the

  • Road cash paves way to prosperity

    A PLANNING boss believes Blackburn's £20m windfall of road improvements will attract major chain stores to the town. The financial package announced last week by the Government will mainly be used to extend Barbara Castle Way and complete the ring road

  • Battle to shut footpath 'will go on'

    CAMPAIGNERS who lost their fight to close a path used by drug users and vandals have vowed not to give up. Residents on Ernlouen Close, off Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, have battled for years for the closure of the path that leads from their homes