THE mother of a man brain injured in a freak accident has launched a fund-raising campaign to make his life more comfortable. Mark Howieson, 31, was left fighting for his life after the accident at Blackamoor Road, Guide, 18 months ago and is still recovering
HEALTH minister Gisela Stuart has officially launched a pioneering video system at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, which will revolutionise the way patients with facial injuries are treated. The high-tech Telemedicine System will use a video link-up
THE father of Blackburn hostage Paul Wells is outraged after the Indian government's claim that his son's body had been found were disproved by British scientists. The Indian authorities had claimed a body they had found in Kashmir in 1997 was Paul's,
BIRD protection groups keeping a around-the-clock watch on a peregrine falcon nest on the Haslingden moors were devastated to find the mating pair dead. The birds had returned to the site earlier in the year and all seemed set for a fifth successful nesting
PHILLIP Anthony Townley bombarded his ex-girlfriend with nuisance phone calls and made her life a misery after their relationship broke down. Blackburn magistrates heard that unwanted taxis were sent to the house Jennifer Proctor shared with her mother
CRICHTON: The keeper didn't look completely in control and appeared slow to react to Nicky Daws' free-kick...5 BRANCH: Did a useful job up the left side before Adrian Littlejohn came on to ask some serious questions...6 COX: Never beaten in a one-on-one
SUNSHINE greeted an army of fun runners who turned out to support Rotary Club of Blackburn Borough's charity fun run at Witton Park, Blackburn More than 60 people, including business and individuals, took part in four mile run, which is supported by the
DAVID Platt felt his Nottingham Forest side should have had a penalty for Simon Grayson's controversial first-half challenge on Alan Rogers. But the Forest boss also faced up to the fact that his team had only themselves to blame for the trouble they
EYAL Berkovic is not on his way to Ewood Park, despite Sunday tabloid speculation that manager Graeme Souness is interested in making the Israeli star his first major signing for Blackburn Rovers. And Rovers have no intention of off-loading Danish midfielder
A COUNCILLOR who read about problems with bin collections in Hoddlesden in the letters page of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has pledged to help. Coun Tony Humphrys, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Council's environment sub committee, was to visit
PREMATURE baby Ryan Lee Johnstone won his first battle for life only to fall victim to what is commonly known as cot death. An inquest heard that Ryan weighed just two pounds 11 ounces when he was born 11 weeks prematurely and doctors at Queen's Park
COMPUTER technology should be more widely used to help country dwellers find jobs, it is claimed. Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans wants the Internet Kiosk provided by the employment service to be made available throughout rural areas. And he wants urgent
CHILDREN at a Ribble Valley school have set themselves a millennium challenge to transform their playing field into a wildlife haven. Pupils at Brabin's Endowed School, Chipping, have planned a scheme which includes a bog garden, wildflower meadow, tree
THE Countryside Alliance has called for stricter legislation to stop new homes eating into the countryside in areas such as the Ribble Valley following deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's announcement of revised targets for housebuilding. The alliance
RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has agreed to dip into his own pocket to cover the cost of House of Commons stationery which he used to distribute information about Government plans to restructure parish councils. Members of Clitheroe Town Council reported
I WOULD like to publicly thank the Cat Rescue people. I took in a stray kitten and had her doctored, but unfortunately she got cat flu. Never having had cats before, I was at a loss what to do. I rang Eunice Falkner of Blackburn Cat Rescue and she came
I FEEL there is a consensus of opinion in favour of retaining the safeguard of Section 28 to prevent the promotion of homosexuality in our schools. I had hoped that some clergyman would have been honourable and courageous enough to express some concern
SINCE my wife died some time ago, I have been trying to erect a plaque in her memory on the Wall of Remembrance in Pleasington Cemetery, Blackburn. I was told by the stonemason I contacted that the wall was completely full, but the council had plans to
I WOULD like to thank all the people who participated in this year's very successful International Women's Festival 2000. Many woman and organisations were extremely busy over many months, to bring together the events that took place over the week and
ONCE again, we are hearing of the notoriously dangerous Grane Road (LET, March 14). I have never heard a more crass statement than 'a dangerous road.' The Driving Standards Agency lists three factors as the cause of accidents and in order of importance
IT IS thanks to 19th-century Blackburn printer and alderman Charles Tiplady that we know what the town's River Blakewater was like before it became a polluted industrial sluice hemmed in by mills and slums, as it still was when seen here at Brookhouse
DARREN Barton shrugged off engine and tyre problems to claim a brilliant victory in the opening round of the British 250cc Championship at Brands Hatch. After qualifying on the front row of the grid, Barton, from Hoddlesden, grabbed the lead from reigning
BOLTON moved a step closer to the play-offs as Eidur Gudjohnsen and Allan Johnston earned Sam Allardyce's side their third straight win. Wanderers took the lead on 16 minutes after Johnston set up, Claus Jensen, whose chipped pass was volleyed home by
A SHOCK "lifestyle" report warned the people of East Lancashire over-eat, are overweight --and unfit. The message from the regional health authority report was that most people in the North West are a health hazard because they eat the wrong food, smoke
FORMER Burnley favourite Brian Flynn predicts Preston will play Division One football next season. "I think they are good enough to go up as champions," said the Wrexham boss after North End's 1-0 win took them four points clear at the top of the table
ON BOTH social and economic grounds, the government is right to get more over-50s back to work -- as among the age group's army of 7.5million who are either out of work or have retired early, there is a huge fund of talent being wasted at huge cost. For
THE CASE revealed today of a serious sex offender being removed from an East Lancashire bail hostel to protect him from other residents, while people living nearby are angered that they can do nothing to prevent perverts being there to begin with, graphically
EYAL Berkovic is not on his way to Ewood Park, despite Sunday tabloid speculation that manager Graeme Souness is interested in making the Israeli star his first major signing for Blackburn Rovers. And Rovers have no intention of off-loading Danish midfielder
BURNLEY have slashed season-ticket prices for young fans as the club bids to extend its fan-base for the future. The Clarets are due to announce ticket prices for the 2000/01 campaign tomorrow. And inevitably there will be a price increase in most areas
A BID to build a £1million McDonald's burger restaurant in Burnley is still on the cards -- despite a decision by councillors to reject the plan. Councillors said no to the fast-food giant's scheme for for an 85-seat restaurant and drive-through take-away
KATE Pope, wife of Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, has retired as chairman of the Blackburn Constituency Labour Party. She stepped down after six years in the chair and Coun Maureen Bateson was elected in her place. There was no change in the other positions within
EMPLOYEES at a clothing firm have put their hands in their pockets! More than £3,000 was raised for two charities by staff at Simon Jersey over the past year through a variety of activities. Chaigley Manor, the company's main charity for the year, received
RESIDENTS who have campaigned for sex offenders to be kept out of a bail hostel near their homes today admitted their battle had failed after it was revealed another pervert had been housed there. Police confirmed a Schedule One offender -- the most serious
A MOTHER raised the alarm after returning home to a smoke-filled house without realising her son had been overcome by fumes and was lying dead upstairs. The devastated woman was told the news after fire crews discovered Derek Bostock's body on a bedroom
A CHARITY golf day to raise cash for the East Lancashire Hospice appeal is expected to raise more than £3,000 for better day care facilities. Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex are now inviting teams to take part in their annual charity tournament on
SPRIGHTLY pensioner Mal Fitzgerald was delighted when he came out on top in the first heat of the Whitbread Senior Citizen's Talent Contest. Mal of Wolseley Street, Blackburn, was up against 10 contestants, all aged 60 and above, with a talent for entertaining
PRE-SCHOOL children have been taught about road safety and how police officers can help them if they are lost. PC Geoff Chadwick, schools liaison officer, visited School House Nursery in Blackburn where he is pictured with Lauren Charnley, four. He talked
A 50-year-old man was jailed for ten weeks and banned for three years for two drink driving offences, one committed while on bail for the other. Robert Catlow of Fernhurst Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to Blackburn magistrates. Brent Patterson, defending
PAUL Damien Donlin stole to feed his addiction to gaming machines. But the bakery worker was told by stipendiary magistrate Jonathon Finestein that the machines are literally bandits and that if he was not careful they would steal his liberty. Donlin,
A PIONEERING scheme aimed at keeping young people away from drugs is being launched in Blackburn. The project is being paid for with money seized from drug dealers and has won the backing of Blackburn Rovers. The aim of the scheme run by Youth Works is
KELLY: One wobbly moment but made a fine save from Harewood and showed safe hands when needed...7 GRAYSON: Had his hands full first with Rogers then when substitute John started attacking down that side...6 DAILLY: Some good moments to underline his recent
POINT-SAVER Ronnie Jepson played down his own contribution and was happy just to emerge with a point as Burnley pounced on the stroke of full-time to snatch a 2-2 draw against Bury. For the second time this season, Jepson came off the bench to score right
GLOWING tributes were paid to Laurence Loft at his last sitting as clerk to the justices of the Blackburn, Darwen and Ribble Valley bench. Mr Loft, who is also clerk to the Hyndburn, Chorley, Leyland and Ormskirk benches, is retiring early as part of
BURNLEY have slashed season-ticket prices for young fans as the club bids to extend its fan-base for the future. The Clarets are due to announce ticket prices for the 2000/01 campaign tomorrow. And inevitably there will be a price increase in most areas
THE government has announced plans for a £1million weighbridge to help combat the problem of rogue heavy goods vehicles travelling through East Lancashire. The weighbridge, to be built at the Bamber Bridge end of the M65, was announced by the Central
A former Soviet marine tells of the heartache of quitting his homeland A FORMER Soviet marine living in Blackburn spoke today of his heartache over a decision to quit his homeland and seek British citizenship. Alex Baranov, 52, is one of the asylum seekers
Division Two: Burnley 2 Bury 2 - Pete Oliver's match verdict IF experience was a guarantee of success, Burnley would be strolling towards promotion rather than suffering a severe case of the yips en route to the play-offs. With one 36-year-old striker
Division One: Nottingham Forest 0 Blackburn Rovers 1 - Peter White's match verdict MORE than 16 hours of playing time, seven weeks, 49 days or 10 games of football...whichever way you look at it, it's a long time. But, after Ashley Ward's seventh-minute
A 78-year-old woman died after falling out of a nursing home bed while she was recovering from a hip replacement operation. An inquest heard that Mrs Lily Procter was rushed to Blackburn Royal Infirmary from the Old Gates nursing home, Livesey Branch
THE local education authority at Blackburn with Darwen Council is to undergo a rigorous government inspection later this year. The authority is among 16 LEAs across the country to be inspected by the Office for Standards in Education this autumn. HM Chief
Friends in Bereavement, Day Hospital, Pendle Community Hospital, Leeds Road, Nelson, 7pm. Blackburn Local History Society, Feilden Room, Blackburn Central Library, 7.30pm. Bobby Wellins, Rhythm Station, Rawtenstall, 8.30pm. Lee Hurst, Charter Theatre,
WATER bosses will meet public health officials today to discuss the water contamination in the Ribble Valley. Householders are still being advised to boil their drinking water after an outbreak of a serious stomach infection almost two weeks ago. For
FARMS across East Lancashire are being turned into bed and breakfast businesses. The latest Stay on a Farm in the North of England brochure features picturesque farms in Bacup, Clitheroe and Colne as well as the rest of Lancashire. Most are working farms
IN the words of Victor Melldrew: "I don't believe it" -- the undisputed King of the Stealth Tax, Gordon Brown, is at it again. It seems that Home Secretary Jack Straw and Mr Brown have had a big bust-up over the Chancellor's refusal to exempt the crime-busting
BEGUN in 1950, Thorney Bank Colliery at Hapton was described as 'one of the most up-to-date drift coal mines in the country' when this picture was taken there two years later of a 48-horse power diesel loco starting its journey underground hauling a train
LANCASHIRE hung on for a three run win in the latest game of their pre-season South Africa tour - but only after a real fright from Richard Green, one of their own players! Green was playing for a Boland XI at Hermanus CC and at the start of the last
OLD soldiers came together to mark the 25th anniversary of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment. More than 140 members of the Queen's Lancashire Association gathered together at the Somme Barracks in Moss Street, Blackburn, to mark the formation of the regiment
LANCASHIRE Lynx now find themselves firmly entrenched at the foot of the Northern Ford Premiership after going down to defeat against fellow strugglers York at Victory Park. Once again Lynx were their own worse enemies as individual errors contributed
POLICE today appealed for public help in their hunt for a man who raped a 15-year-old girl near a Burnley centre nightspot. The teenager had left the Genesis nightclub in Hammerton Street around midnight on Friday. She was trying to hail a taxi to take
BURNLEY'S Needham quintuplets celebrated becoming teenagers -- with a day out in Blackpool. The quins -- Sarah, Vicky, Cara, Philip and Craig -- gave a photocall at Blackpool Tower in a joyous day their mum, Lesley, 42, feared she would never see. Former
THE sound of clogs once again echoed around Oswaldtwistle Mills - but it wasn't the return of a shift of weavers! Ossy Cloggers, including from the left, Francesca Sanna, Danielle Holland and Sophie Libberton, treated visitors to a series of dance displays
A FRIGHTENED 82-year-old man was pushed to the floor and pinned down by a robber who barged into his home. The attack took place on the front doorstep of the pensioner's home in Ribblesdale Avenue, Accrington, shortly after 5pm on Saturday. Inspector
A TEENAGER who smashed a doorman's nose and knocked him unconscious in an early hours street melee has kept his freedom. Judge Raymond Bennett told Burnley Crown Court he was always reluctant to send somebody to custody for the first time and hit Jason
A STATELY home was the backdrop for the launch of a business which aims to offer a charter and rental service with a difference. Power to Choose It has been set up by Blackburn-based businessman Gerald Dunbar to offer unusual or exotic items such as tanks
A MAJOR environmental conference will be staged in East Lancashire next month. "Energy Efficiency 2000" is aimed at showing businesses new ways to reduce energy consumption and the benefits of operating more efficiently. The event will be held on Wednesday
A £250,000 investment has been made in a new manufacturing plant at a lighting firm. AC/DC Lighting Systems of Barrowford has invested in a new automated assembly process which will enable glass tubes to be made ten times faster than before. A new oven
A MAJOR industry accolade has been won by a Blackburn firm. Millbrook Instruments has been awarded the Scientific Instrument Makers' Achievement Award for a chemical microscope it has developed. The annual award is made for the instrument judges believes
A VILLAGE was today mourning the loss of 22-year-old crash driver Robert Buchanan. Robert, who was brought up in Edenfield, died in intensive care at Royal Preston Hospital at the weekend, following a two-car collision on the A671 near Read on Friday
DOCTORS' surgeries in Blackburn and Darwen will close tomorrow afternoon as a new training scheme for healthcare staff starts. All Blackburn with Darwen practices are being invited to a meeting to plan a training programme for the coming year. The new
