EAST Lancashire has long had a massive headache because thousands of homes are in an appalling state. Both council and privately-owned houses, especially many pre-1919 terraces, suffer with cold and damp problems which are so bad that they actually make
IN the last few weeks Blackpool Zoo has been in the news. Should the local authority let the zoo be purchased by a private company. Blackpool Zoo opened in 1972 on the site of what was the Municipal Airport from 1931 to 1946. The zoo offices were once
A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with the murder of traveller Eamon McDonagh. Shane Manson was due to appear in court today charged with killing the 17-year-old last Wednesday. A post mortem examination revealed he had died from head injuries. Eamon's
MEMBERS of Blackburn's Salvation Army have lined up a full programme of events to mark the organisation's 125th anniversary. The schedule will mark the run-up to the corps anniversary weekend on July 5 and 6. The Salvation Army started in 1878 after the
DO readers remember the game called Jacks or Five Stones? I believe there were other names for the game. I would like to gather together as many of the different games we played as children into a booklet, including the different versions. I have been
IF it's true our prison system is imploding, we have only ourselves to blame. The big problem is re-offending and we could deal with that if, upon re-offending, all previous prison sentences were added and additionally served to any new sentence. At present
REGARDING Mr David Inman's comments on the hazardous driving conditions in Blackburn on January 6, which he blamed on major roads not being gritted (Letters, January 14), my son was driving at a cautious 30mph that evening on the link road just off Whitebirk
BUDDING actor Lee Seddon's latest role is heaven sent. The 26-year-old from Tyldesley has landed a plum role in the controversial ITV drama, Second Coming, appearing opposite Little Hulton star Christopher Eccleston. Lee, a former head boy at Fred Longworth
WHEN I start to get my stuff together for match-day I do a mental checklist. Lap-top - check! Notebook - check! Mobile - check! Stop-watch - check! Pens - check! Recent programme - check! But now I have to add another. Calculator - check! To be honest
POLICE today confirmed they are waiting to interview the mother of a 14-month-old "home alone" baby rescued from a house fire. The woman will be questioned by officers from Lancashire Constabulary's family protection team when the child leaves Burnley
A MASSIVE Government project to breathe new life into East Lancashire towns by rebuilding thousands of houses was launched today. The plans - due to be announced today by deputy Prime Minister John Prescott - come as it was revealed one in five homes
FORMER Burnley man Gerry Harrison says ex-Blackburn Rovers midfielder Mark Patterson is the man to get Leigh out of the danger zone in the Nationwide Conference. Darwen-based Patterson, who also played for Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United, took over
BLACKBURN Rovers will attempt to save their season tonight in the imposing surroundings of Sunderland's Stadium of Light. A season which had promised so much is in grave danger of grinding to a halt unless Graeme Souness's side can extend their interest
A POPULAR pub which has been closed since Christmas has finally re-opened thanks to an £80,000 investment. The Fighting Cocks, Red Lees Road, Mereclough, has been revamped complete with a bar, function room and restaurant. The pub was closed after former
COUNCILLOR Alan Lawson has produced several walks around Worsthorne to enable residents and visitors to enjoy and explore the countryside. The parish council is exploring whether these walks with maps can be displayed on the websites of Burnley Borough
A SOCCER fan who joined in town centre trouble after the England v Sweden World Cup match told police it was "just instinct." Burnley Magistrates heard how Mark Smith, 27, seemed to make a bee-line for the trouble in Burnley after the game last June 2
A BURNLEY business has been fined for carrying out unauthorised alterations to a listed building. Burnley Estates was fined a total of £750 and ordered to pay £175 at Reedley Magistrates Court after it pleaded guilty to two offences of unauthorised works
Cambridge Utd 1 Bury 2: ANDY Preece's Shakers roared back into an automatic promotion place with a late two goal blast that left Cambridge reeling. The Gigg Lane men showed just the kind of battling spirit that they are going to need over the next few
A SPORTS area at Walton High School in Nelson could be made available for use by the whole community in a bid to help children integrate better. Discussions have been taking place between the headteacher at the school, Geoff Walker, and the council's
PENDLE county councillor Tim Ormrod has resigned from his position in Lancashire County Council's cabinet. He was the member for public protection and rural affairs, and said he has stepped down 'for personal reasons.' County Council leader Hazel Harding
AMAZING to think that when first performed Giacomo Puccini's Tosca went down as a bit of a lead balloon with audiences. Hard to believe a modern day crowd giving such a luke warm reception to what has become a staple of the repertoire especially with
LISA McNamara, 12, organised a Blue Peter bring and buy sale by herself to raise money for the programme's appeal. The pupil from Park High School, in Colne, raised the money for the I Care Appeal, which aimed to prevent blindness from drinking water
SKATING stars Jade Martin, 11, and Andrew McDonald, 12, of King George's Hall ice show "A Christmas Fantasy" made Joshua Crowther, four, very happy. Joshua, of Arkwright Fold, Blackburn, was delighted when his name was drawn out in a spot the difference
TALENTED scrum half Chris Leck has been ear-marked as one of the stars of the future to help England win the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Not much pressure there then! The Burnley youngster is in the England Elite Development squad which has been put together
A SENIOR government minister chatted with elderly residents about their housing concerns ahead of today's cash announcement. Pensions minister Ian McCartney visited the Walmsley Court sheltered accommodation complex in Accrington. Edith Holden has lived
RESIDENTS campaigning against plans to increase operations at a controversial tip are to hold their first official protest meeting tonight. The newly formed Stop Sita group will discuss plans to persuade three companies running the tip for the next 40
A DRINK to celebrate closing a contract cost BAE Systems engineer Peter George Newman his driving licence and possibly his job. Blackburn magistrates heard that Newman had two pints of beer with the client over lunch and then stopped for two more on his
A TOP chef has called on shoppers to support local producers in a bid to boost the rural economy following foot and mouth outbreak. Nigel Haworth spoke out following a sell-out food and wine festival at his award-winning Northcote Manor in Langho. The
A SINGLE mum spiralled into debt when she borrowed money to pay for the funeral of her four-month-old baby who was a victim of sudden infant death syndrome, a court heard. Blackburn magistrates heard that in an effort to do the best she could for her
YOUNG members of Rosehill Baptist Church in Burnley dug out their bric-a-brac items to raise money for charity. The children from the church, led by Emily Tanner, set up their stalls on Saturday to hold a Blue Peter coffee morning and bring and buy sale
A POPULAR band will get Rosegrove Unity Club rocking to the sound of the 60s and 70s for a charity night on Friday. The event at the venue off Rossendale Road will see Liverpool group Nostalgia take to the stage to raise money for Hospice Care for Burnley
A PURPOSE built hang-out for bored teenagers has helped cut nuisance activity in Burnley. The local council put up a 'youth shelter' in Padiham which helped halved complaints about anti-social behaviour in nearby areas in the 12 months after it was introduced
AN EAST Lancashire business man with links to the NASA space programme has spoken of his sadness and "devastation" after the Columbia space shuttle disaster. John Getty, a former Burnley Grammar School pupil and now chairman of PDS Engineering in Nelson
ALMOST a year after he was released by the Clarets, Kevin Ball is back in football as a coach with Sunderland. But the former Black Cats skipper will not be involved as they take on Blackburn Rovers in a fourth round FA Cup replay at the Stadium of Light
CLARETS chairman Barry Kilby is hopeful that defender Drissa Diallo will put pen to paper on a new deal today that will keep him at Turf Moor until the end of the season. And he is also hopeful that keeper Marlon Beresford's future will be sorted out,
A FATHER caught the man who stole his 14-year-old daughter's mobile phone because she recognised the thief as he waited for a tram, a court heard. Imran Butt ran off when he realised he had been spotted, but was found by the girl's father cowering in
SCHOOLBOY Daniel Crosby is set to become one of the youngest riders to contest the British Superbike Championship. For the 14-year-old Witton Park High School pupil has signed a deal to ride a Honda 125cc on selected rounds of the series. And the contract
WHY can't Labour councillors see the favours they are doing the extreme-right British National Party each time they seek to exclude it? When two of Burnley's BNP councillors attended the Holocaust memorial service at the town's Peace Garden and laid a
Results: Premier Division: Rainsough Brew 3 LLWMC 4; Roach Ht A 3 S of Life A 4; Summerseat A 3 Hamers Arms 4; Royal Oak A 3 Church Sp St 4. First Division: Top Bull 3 Bridge Tav A 4; R + Crown Rams 3 Masons Arms A 4; Derby Arms 5 H + Hounds 2; Victoria
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today vowed 'it's pay-back time' at the Stadium of Light tonight as Rovers attempt to erase the memories of the last seven days. Souness said his players let themselves and the club down on Sunday when they crashed to a hugely
TROUBLED Lancashire tour operator MyTravel was today urged to come clean over where it plans to cut up to 700 of its 15,000 UK staff. Today, the company refused to disclose whether the axe would fall on its operations in Accrington and Helmshore, which
POLICE are warning villagers in Edgworth to lock their vehicles after two cars were stolen in two days. A Citroen was taken from Bolton Road on Monday and another car went missing from the area yesterday morning. Police sergeant Anne Scott said: "People
PROCEEDS from one of Darwen Library Theatre's most popular nights will go towards eradicating polio worldwide. Organised by the Rotary Club, the showing of the Darwen Movie Story (part two) was enjoyed by more than 400 people last Thursday and Friday.
ASPIRING writers have collaborated for the first time to perform under the roof of Darwen Library Theatre. 'Honour and Reputation' will be staged next Wednesday at 7.30pm and features work by a creative writing group whose members meet weekly at the theatre
DARWEN firefighters want a public meeting so they can explain their fears for the future and reasons for striking. Amidst strike action and pay talks with local authorities, crews are standing firm against the recommendations of the Bain Report into the
EMERGENCY talks are taking place at Darwen's oldest Conservative Club, because of a financial crisis that could lead to its closure. A crisis meeting was held at the club last week and a further meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss the finances of
A WATERFOOT charity is on the move -- just round the corner. MENCAP is moving from its premises of nine years in Burnley Road, to the former Millennium Taxis office in Burnley Road East. Linda Hardman has co-ordinated the move in a bid to drum-up more
FASHION enthusiasts can snap up a designer bargain -- thanks to Rossendale Hospice and a Valley designer shop. Sunday Best, Bank Street, Rawtenstall, has teamed-up with Rossendale Hospice, off Haslingden Old Road, Rawtenstall, to hold an end of season
A FOUR-vehicle pile-up on the Edenfield bypass caused traffic chaos yesterday when the south-bound carriageway was closed for three hours. Bad weather conditions led to a collision involving three heavy goods vehicles and one van at 11.15am. No-one was
A PHARMACIST who has spent almost two decades building-up a business today told how news that a nearby surgery was moving will destroy his life. David Preston, of Stacksteads Pharmacy, Burnley Road, said he has spent 16 years working 60 hours a week to
RADCLIFFE Amateurs stayed nine points at the top of the Lancashire Amateur League Premiership after beating Lymm away 6-1. The leaders were always on top and half-time led 3-0 with goals from Isherwood and a penalty from Maffia along with an own goal
In July, 1975, Keith Dawson, aged 25, left, of Hillside Avenue, Atherton, had to scratch from a charity race at Horwich when his 1935 Rudge let him down at the last minute. He should have joined 16 riders from firms associated with the motor trade in
A FATHER has joined the police in an appeal for witnesses to the 'unprovoked and vicious' attack on his teenage son. Police said the boy, 15, was set-upon by six Asian youths in maroon blazers in Preston New Road, Blackburn, last Friday at 3.40pm. The
A 52-YEAR-OLD man who bombarded his ex-partner with late night phone calls was jailed for 28 days after pleading guilty to harassment. Blackburn Magistrates Court heard James Alexander Green had previously been made subject to a restraining order protecting
A HEADTEACHER today warned that schools will close in snowy weather because they fear parents will sue them. David Whalley, headteacher of Audley Junior School in Queens Park Road, was one of eight headteachers in Blackburn with Darwen who took the decision
THE shape of the reformed House of Lords has split East Lancashire MPs -- just as it split the rest of Parliament. The Government's plans for Lords reform were plunged into confusion last night as MPs rejected all options for change, including Tony Blair's
BLACKBURN'S new town centre police station on the Boulevard will open its doors to the public for the first time tomorrow. Even though the new premises will not be open 24-hours, unlike the old Northgate station whose front-desk was manned around the
A MASSIVE Government project to breathe new life into East Lancashire towns by rebuilding thousands of houses was launched today. The plans - due to be announced today by deputy Prime Minister John Prescott - come as it was revealed one in five in the
A GOAL four minutes from time ended Clitheroe's hopes of a Marsden Trophy semi-final slot against Accrington Stanley. It seemed Mark Stewart got the final touch on a cross and the ball looped over keeper Kris Richens. It was a cruel end for Lee Sculper's
EIGHT Leigh schools have taken part in a football festival that featured prominent community coaches. Pupils from schools within the Leigh Education Action Zone, including St Peter's, Leigh CE, and Higher Folds, honed their footballing skills at the School
CHILDREN at a Leigh school are having bags of fun with a new reading project. A number of pupils at Twelve Apostles RC School are being given StoryBags containing a fiction and non-fiction book, a story tape with personal stereo player, a toy, prop or
THE trial of ex-Wanderers soccer star Frank Worthington, who has been accused of careless driving and leaving the scene of an accident, has been adjourned by Bury magistrates. Worthington, aged 54, of New Hey Road in Huddersfield, has denied charges of
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Lunch Recital with Chetham's School of Music, Knowle Green Village Hall. "Within Sight of Pendle Hill" -- lecture by Edmund and Iris Hurst, Clitheroe Library, 7.30pm.
THERE is no doubt that the best known family of birds is the owls. Why should this be? I think there are two main reasons. The first is that owls are the only birds which move their head and large round eyes in a similar way to mammals and this gives
A FORMER registered firearms dealer has appeared in court, charged with offences relating to the unauthorised possession of ammunition and possession of an unlawfully modified .38 calibre bullet. Ian Kirby, 45, of Aintree Drive, Lower Darwen, is also
A COUNCIL leader named among Britain's top politicians today revealed the secret of his success. Bill Taylor, who has served in Blackburn for 23 years, was named one of the country's 15 top-performing elected members of the last 12 months. The 50-year-old
REGARDING your report on the capacity at Ewood Park possibly being increased to 35,000 (LET, February 1), with gates already averaging 25,000 when Rovers are at home, can anyone tell me where the public toilets outside the ground are? DALE BARTON, Vincent
CAN I make a point to the readers who constantly knock the fact that Darwen is to get a state-of-the art health centre at least. I am one of those mothers who will supposedly not be able to access the new site with my pram! Absolute tosh -- I don't walk
LEIGH RMI and Rossendale United's Marsden Cup quarter-final was postponed last night because of a frozen Dark Lane pitch. The two sides will now attempt to play on February 11, with the winners drawn to take on Chorley at 7:45pm. In the semi-final the
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today vowed 'it's pay-back time' at the Stadium of Light tonight as Rovers attempt to erase the memories of the last seven days. Souness said his players let themselves and the club down on Sunday when they crashed to a hugely
EWOOD legend Tony Parkes today insisted Blackburn Rovers won't take the FA Cup for granted when they step out at Sunderland's Stadium of Light tonight. Recent team selections and attendances from ties involving both clubs have only served to add weight
A YOUNG mum attacked her ex-boyfriend's terrified mother in the street as the victim got cash from a dispenser. Former drug user Nicky Stacey, 29, grabbed Mrs Sandra Howes by the neck, squeezed it and pulled at her T-shirt. Mrs Howes tried to appeal to
POLICE today confirmed they are waiting to interview the mother of a 14-month-old "home alone" baby rescued from a house fire. The woman will be questioned by officers from Lancashire Constabulary's family protection team when the child leaves Burnley
A FORMER professional footballer will be retiring from the magistrates' bench on his 70th birthday next week - against his better judgment. Ex-Claret Brian Pilkington, who lives in Leyland, has had a full and varied working life, with 50 years experience
A NEW initiative which aims to crackdown on football hooliganism has netted its first victory. Operation Fixture, a joint project between Pennine Police, Burnley Football Club and Burnley Magistrates, has convicted 18 "fans" who have now been banned for
A LANDLADY of a haunted pub who said she is too frightened to go downstairs after closing has appealed for help. Alma Thompson, of the Red Rock Inn, near Padiham, has asked for a clairvoyant to help her understand the poltergeist she believes haunts her
A MASSIVE Government project to breathe new life into East Lancashire towns by rebuilding thousands of houses was launched today. The plans - due to be announced today by deputy Prime Minister John Prescott - come as it was revealed one in five in the
PLANS to develop a golf driving range off Cuckstool Lane, Fence, have been submitted to Pendle Council for discussion tomorrow. The site is is near to the Barrowford Road and Greenhead Lane junction. The development would include 20 timber driving bays
A 53-YEAR-OLD man plans to complete the London, Edinburgh and Dublin marathons for charity this year, as well as the Great North Run. David Lewis, of Coldweather Avenue, Nelson, has raised more than £9,000 for various charities in the last three years
A HERITAGE day will be held in Foulridge on Saturday, February 22, so that residents can find out more about where they live. Organised by parish council chairman Julie Mallalieu, the event will run from 10am to 4pm in the village hall. Residents are
A SERIES of four concerts will be held at St John's Church, Accrington, to raise money for the restoration fund. There will be an organ recital by Roger V Britnell with guest soprano Nicola Thorpe on Saturday, March 1, at 7.30 pm. Matthew Hargreaves,
HOUSEHOLDERS and motorists have been warned to be on their guard after a gang of thieves hit cars and homes. Officers say the same people could be responsible for all the offences, with four houses and five cars broken into over a three-day period in
GOVERNMENT enthusiasm for regional devolution could lead to a North-west "parliament" by spring 2005. The North West Regional Assembly -- unelected but influential -- is beavering away behind the scenes to convince the Minister of State for Local Government
FIREFIGHTERS were called to a house fire in Burnley after a pan was left unattended. The three-storey house in Hawthorne Road was smoke logged and there was heat damage to the kitchen units after fire broke out at 10.40am yesterday. Leading firefighter
POLICE are urging people to play their part in helping to cut car crime. The move follows a recent increase in the number of thefts from vehicles, many of were left unlocked or with valuable items on view. Laptop computers, mobile phones, wallets and
AN East Lancashire MP has backed a new regime to stop youngsters buying booze, cigarettes and other restricted goods such as solvents and glue. Burnley's Labour MP Peter Pike is supporting of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), which represents
BORN in Radcliffe, a black pudding fan, Shakers supporter and a well-known businessman, There's no-one more loyal to his roots than Gordon Lomax, apart from the fact that he now lives in Florida! But home is where the heart is they say, and Gordon's northern
POLICE are calling on clubbers to help trace a man who attacked a 20-year-old on his way home. The Padiham victim suffered a fractured jaw and head injuries in the attack in St James's Street, Burnley, near the Cross Keys Pub, at 2am on Sunday. He is
A SHOPLIFTER went prepared for thieving with a specially adapted carrier bag designed to stop alarms going off. Burnley Magistrates heard how James Bradbury, plagued by addictions to drink and drugs, was seen putting five DVDs into the bag, adapted using
A NEW initiative which aims to crackdown on football hooliganism has netted its first victory. Operation Fixture, a joint project between Pennine Police, Burnley Football Club and Burnley Magistrates, has convicted 18 "fans" who have now been banned for
THURSDAY, February 6: Golborne Library (10-11) B Strett, D Kelly; Lowton Labour Club (7-7.30) B Strett, D Kelly; Lane Head Methodist Church, Lowton (7-7.45) P Franzen; Abram Library (10.30-noon) B Hampson.
DO you suppose there would have been much publicity over 'snow chaos' last weekend if it had been us lot up here and not Home Counties' commuters stuck on ungritted roads? No, me neither. The media hardly went ballistic when it was our turn on Monday,
RADCLIFFE Borough manager Kevin Glendon couldn't hide his disappointment after his team crashed out of the UniBond League Challenge Cup last Saturday. Boro went out after finishing on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller at Stainton Park against lowly
CLARETS chairman Barry Kilby is hopeful that defender Drissa Diallo will put pen to paper on a new deal today that will keep him at Turf Moor until the end of the season. And he is also hopeful that keeper Marlon Beresford's future will be sorted out,
Radcliffe Borough 3 Ossett Town 4 - AS cup-ties go, this was a cracker. End-to-end attractive football, plenty of goals -- and good ones at that -- just the wrong result as far as Boro were concerned. The Boro faithful might have been forgiven for thinking
HASLINGDEN High School's Young Enterprise team have launched their latest product -- the CD clock. The company, G.A.P, which is based at the Broadway school, was set up in September as a scheme to educate students in the world of business. The CD clock
STAFF from the East Lancashire Hospice will be at Asda in Blackburn on Friday to explode a few myths about the services they offer. They will be at the store between noon and 3pm and are inviting people to drop along and see what they offer to patients
A TEENAGER has been praised for her bravery after rescuing three infants from a blazing house. Louise Smith, 16, of Railton Avenue, Blackburn, was baby-sitting in a semi-detached house in Foxstones Crescent when she smelled smoke coming from the upstairs
A TEN-year-old girl has been awarded £2.75million after she suffered brain damage during birth. Today her mother said that the money would enable her daughter to have the best of care. But she added that said it would never compensate for the heartache
COUNCIL bosses today admitted some main roads had not been gritted before Monday's snowstorm which left Blackburn and Darwen gridlocked for hours. And they admitted even the ones which had been treated weren't much safer as drivers were travelling too
THE finger of fate is not pointing at Bury when it comes to hitting the National Lottery jackpot. For the borough receives less money than many other local authorities nationwide. Latest figures show that Bury is ranked 325 out of 436 local authorities
