Archive

  • My First. . .

    This week, with MARTIN WILCOCK, 33, professional illustrator from Blackburn who will be taking part in tomorrow's London Marathon MEMORY: Falling off a slide at primary school, resulting in a large bump on my head. I never liked heights after that. HOLIDAY

  • Patients on 12 months waiting down

    THE number of patients waiting more than12 months for treatment in East Lancashire hospitals dropped significantly in February, according to new figures. The numbers waiting more than a year for treatment with the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  • Cannabis sales netted £1,600

    A FAMILY man looking to buy his own home supplied cannabis resin in a bid to boost his income. Over six months Carl Moore made a profit of around £1,600. He was caught in a police raid at his rented home and jailed for a year by Preston Crown Court. The

  • Street's down the pan

    A FEW weeks ago I wrote concerning the sad state Coronation Street is in, and that Bet Gilroy is to make a comeback. Now in my daily paper there is an article claiming they are trying to bring back Reg Holdsworth. God forbid! The Street has done down

  • Media scramble was laughable

    AROUND April 3 and 4 there was heard across the nation a loud screech followed by a whirling sound of increasing tempo and volume. What could it be? It was all the pundits of Fleet Street back-pedalling when they discovered that the public, Joe of that

  • Rovers sweat over absent stars

    "PLEASE tread carefully" was the plea from Blackburn Rovers as the club prepared to allow several of their players to go on international duty this week. Last month manager Graeme Souness was furious that Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff played

  • Beat PC's surgery on how to beat criminals

    ADVICE on crime prevention and other policing issues is available at a police advice surgery at Burnley's Asda store, in Princess Way, on Friday. The surgery to be conducted by PC Nic Fisher is being held between 5pm and 8pm. PC Fisher said: "During the

  • Padiham to get its own council

    PADIHAM was celebrating today after being given approval for its own town council for the first time in almost 30 years. The group will now meet monthly and Padiham will have its own mayor, who will be the chair of the council. The victory follows years

  • Blitz on plague of abandoned cars

    A BLITZ on Burnley's plague of abandoned cars has been announced by the town's council leader after a new law was passed giving local authorities more clout. Labour leader Councillor Stuart Caddy said: "Abandoned cars are a blight on Burnley. "They drag

  • Drink-fuelled man forced child under paddling pool water

    A DRUNKEN man held down a young boy in a garden paddling pool was today starting a six months jail term. Ian Smith, 36, repeatedly held the eight-year-old, who suffers from asthma, under the water as the child struggled for breath. The boy had to be thumped

  • Theatre to greet artists from the Orient

    MEMBERS of Burnley Youth Theatre are looking forward to welcoming three acclaimed artists from Singapore to the town as part of the Commonwealth Games festivities. The trio will take up a three week residency as part of Cultureshock, a ground-breaking

  • Views wanted after triathlon cancelled

    PENDLE'S normally popular triathlon event has been cancelled after only four local people entered and organisers are deciding whether to scrap the event on a permanent basis. People are being asked to give their views on the triathlon or ideas for a replacement

  • Father-to-be drove car into crowd outside club

    A DRIVER who injured three people when he drove through a crowd outside a club, has been jailed for nine months. Burnley Crown Court heard how father-to-be Simon Spencer, 23, weaved and reversed through the group in the early hours incident, in which

  • Tree-mendous Liz helps nature site

    A NATURE area in Colne which was vandalised last week could soon be flourishing once more after a story in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph led to a member of the public donating 11 trees. Liz Richens-Smith, of Haslingden Old Road, Rawtenstall, read about

  • Victim's ordeal: Defendant awaits his his fate

    A 31-YEAR-OLD man who beat up and sexually assaulted a woman after dragging her along the ground, is awaiting sentence. Andrew Courtney, formerly of Beaconsfield Street, Great Harwood, was found guilty of rape and assault causing actual bodily harm, after

  • Chemists on Duty

    Friday, April 19 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst

  • Chemists on Duty

    Wednesday, April 17 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; The Surgery (Chiropody), 132 Lammack Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The

  • Chemists on Duty

    Tuesday, April 16 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst Road; Geloo Bros, Cleaver

  • Clarets pair are hitting target

    IAN Moore's goal tally may be subject to debate but what is without question is the success of his partnership with David Johnson. Before this afternoon's clash with Grimsby at Blundell Park the pair had netted eight times in six games where they have

  • Rovers sweat over absent stars

    "PLEASE tread carefully" was the plea from Blackburn Rovers as the club prepared to allow several of their players to go on international duty this week. Last month manager Graeme Souness was furious that Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff played

  • Councillors back school closure

    COUNCILLORS have opted to close an historic Ramsbottom primary school and relocate the children in a second Church of England primary. Bury Metro's executive has recommended the option of closing St Paul's School and moving the pupils to St Andrew's,

  • Chartists question all the election hopefuls

    QUESTIONNAIRES have been sent to all 75 candidates standing in Rossendale Council's May elections by the Chartists group. They are asked about good practice and what they think of the council's performance. The questionnaire is focused on the 1993 charter

  • Spring clean for the waterways

    ROSSENDALE residents are bring urged to put on wellies and waders to help give local rivers a spring clean. Volunteers to help the Rossendale Rivers Initiative only need waterproof footwear to join in. Waterways including the River Irwell close to Rawtenstall's

  • Bravery award after river rescue by animal lover

    A SUPERMARKET porter who jumped into the River Irwell to rescue a dog has been given a bravery award by Rossendale's animal warden David East. Animal lover David Parkinson has a dog and two cats of his own so when told there was a dog in the river next

  • Butchered lover's depraved sex life

    THE former personal assistant of an East Lancashire businessman hacked to death with an axe by his partner told the jury she was astonished by stories of his 'depraved, perverse and extraordinary' sex life published after the killing. Anne Jarrett was

  • Pupils' big chance for Games tickets

    SCHOOLCHILDREN throughout Lancashire are being given the chance to win coveted tickets for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. To win, pupils are being asked to take up the 'Ticket Challenge' and demonstrate what the Commonwealth Games means to them through

  • Company eases the way back into a career

    ADULTS and businesses will now be able to join young people in getting help from careers advisors, as part of a major overhaul of the system in East Lancashire. A new company, Connexions Lancashire Ltd, has been set up to take over the work of the East

  • Patient numbers are up across the board

    PATIENT numbers at hospitals in Blackburn have risen in every department across the board, leaving hospital managers struggling to cope. Managers at the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust were aware that nationally there has been a rise in

  • Carp continue to dominate commercial catches

    Angling, with Kingfisher CARP continue to dominate catches as weights are on the increase at commercial fisheries all over the North West. And with overnight frosts likely to cease, for a week at least, there is no reason why that trend should not continue

  • Lancashire Hot Spots

    This week with COUN CHRIS HOLTOM, Ribble Valley borough and Lancashire county councillor CHRIS offers two beautiful walks as his favourite places -- one on his doorstep, the other in one of the northernmost reaches of the county. The further of the two

  • The Saturday Message

    This week, with Fr Philip Gray, Chaplain to the Bishop of Blackburn SPRINGTIME, the Easter Season, is one of my favourite times of the year. The weather begins to warm. The grass needs cutting. Signs of new life are all around. Most of us enjoy emerging

  • Art sits well with beauty of nature

    Drive & Stroll, with Ron Freethy - this week in the Ribble Valley OVER the years in writing this column I have visited Brungerley on several occasions. When it was decided to set artistic carvings along the route I was not too happy. I thought that

  • Advice on food: Take it with a pinch of salt

    One Fort in the Grave, with KEITH FORT AFTER the pundits have had their say, I think most of us are totally confused about which foods are good for us - and which are just plain bad. Any day now I expect some expert to come along and announce that drinking

  • Two injured in road collision

    AN East Lancashire man was injured in a collision between a Ford Iveco and a tractor. Cumeragh Lane, Preston was closed for three hours following the accident at around 3.30pm yesterday. Lesley Knowles, 51, of Burnley Road, Blackburn, suffered serious

  • Rovers medal fetches £5,000 at auction

    A BLACKBURN Rovers FA Cup winner's medal dating back to 1890 has sold for £5,000 at auction. The highest bidder for the solid gold medal, which belonged to defender John Barton, is thought to be a collector. Rovers won the match against Sheffield Wednesday

  • Sarcasm is a dying art form

    RP O'Keeffe (Snr's) vitriolic condemnation of the deliciously ironical outlook of Eric Leavers' column (LET, March 13) serves as a rich reminder that 'sarcasm' is, sadly, a dying art form. I am just about old enough to remember when the Soviets used to

  • Padiham to get its own council

    PADIHAM was celebrating today after being given approval for its own town council for the first time in almost 30 years. The group will now meet monthly and Padiham will have its own mayor, who will be the chair of the council. The victory follows years

  • Warning for man who gave woman black eye

    A 39-YEAR-OLD man who hit a woman in a pub melee was told by a judge he should have grown up by now. Kevin Scott, whose victim suffered a black eye and a laceration to her cheek, had punched her once in the face. Sentencing the defendant, Recorder Quentin

  • First work on alarm centre of 1,000 new jobs

    BOSSES have turned the first piece of turf on a new state-of-the-art call centre which will create 1,000 jobs when it opens later this year. Rentokil Initial has begun work on the Initial Electronic Security call centre in Bridgewater Close, Burnley.

  • How you can help adventure dream come true

    A YOUNG adventurer only needs another £1,600 to make his trip later this month to Borneo possible. Andrew Thorley, 22, of Healdwood Close, Burnley flies out on April 29 and has two weeks of jungle training before carrying out three months of conservation

  • 'Scrap spy trial' urges plane row brother

    THE East Lancashire brother of one of the Greece plane spotters today demanded their trial be scrapped. The 12-strong group is facing trial over accusations it gathered secret information at an air show in Kalamata, Southern Greece, last November. The

  • Chemists on Duty

    Sunday, April 14 BLACKBURN: noon-1pm: Geloo Bros, Brownhill Pharmacy, 785 Whalley New Road. DARWEN: noon-1pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 11 Church Street. ACCRINGTON: noon-1pm: Nash Chemists, 322 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle; noon-1pm: Baxenden Pharmacy, 516 Manchester

  • Chemists on Duty

    Thursday, April 18 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohens Chemist, 63 Whalley Range; To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 6.30pm: Donald Wood Ltd, 53 Fishmoor Drive;

  • Chemists on Duty

    Monday, April 15 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst

  • Date set for gas blast inquest

    A DATE has been set for the inquest into the death of a Clitheroe youngster who died after being involved in a gas explosion at his home -- providing his parents are fit enough to attend. Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley coroner Michael Singleton

  • Concern grows over missing mother

    CONCERN is growing for a mother-of-two who went missing after failing to appear before Blackburn magistrates in connection with a £70,000 theft from her employer. Mary Vera Fishwick, 39, of Gardeners Cottage, Whalley Abbey, was due to appear in court

  • Clarets pair are hitting target

    IAN Moore's goal tally may be subject to debate but what is without question is the success of his partnership with David Johnson. Before this afternoon's clash with Grimsby at Blundell Park the pair had netted eight times in six games where they have

  • Simon says: We've sold to Germans

    SIMON Jersey, one of East Lancashire's most successful growth businesses of the 1990s, has been bought out. The giant German-based KarstadtQuelle company has taken control of the Altham-based corporate clothing specialist for an undisclosed sum. The 250

  • Shocked father speaks after chip pan fire terror

    A FATHER spoke today of his family's lucky escape from a chip pan fire which turned his kitchen into an inferno. Michael Fisher, 29, of Taylor Close, Blackburn, and his two children, Liam Gray, eight, and Sam Fisher, three, escaped unharmed from the early

  • Byers warns on rail misery

    Transport Secretary Stephen Byers visited Blackburn yesterday -- and told reporter DAVID HIGGERSON train firms hit by strikes and poor performance which bring misery for travellers will no longer be tolerated. TRANSPORT secretary Stephen Byers has warned

  • Chorley Borough Council Elections on Thursday, May 2

    Nominations are: Astley and Buckshaw Ward (two seats): Margaret Rose Fielden (Lab); *Patricia Mary Haughton (Con); Laura Jane Lennox (Lab); Mark Perks (Con). Brindle and Hoghton Ward (one seat): Stephen Charlesworth (Lib Dem); *David Dickinson (Con);

  • Large smiles from the big screens licensees

    PUBS in East Lancashire were celebrating today after a u-turn in a ruling from the High Court which determined that the World Cup is now seen as a 'special occasion.' The ruling does not automatically mean that all pubs would be allowed to serve pints

  • RUGBY LEAGUE: Lynx search for Cup victory

    CHORLEY Lynx go in search of a morale boosting victory tomorrow when they travel to Gigg Lane to take on fellow strugglers Swinton Lions in their third game in the National League Cup. Lynx have now lost their opening two games in the round robin series