IN the aftermath of the riots that rocked Burnley two summers ago, a major reason cited for the divisions between races in the town was the sheer separateness of their communities. In short, the lack of mixing led to a lack of understanding and trust.
THE government is about to foist genetically-modified food on us as a direct result of pressure from the US which is dissatisfied that Europe's moratorium on GM foods means that American biotech companies do not have a market over here. Britain once again
REGARDING Jack Straw's "revelation" at the residents' meeting held at the Ivy Street Community Centre in Blackburn (LET, June 7). What your report failed to state is that his comments came out of a question that was not race-related, but was directly
AN Iraqi asylum seeker has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murdering a fellow countryman in a Blackburn street. And Judge Peter Openshaw QC, recorder of Preston, ordered that Samduddin Farhan Hamad should be deported once
THREE masked raiders armed with a knife stole cash from a 23-year-old man as he was about to leave his house in Avondale Avenue, Bury. The men -- wearing Balaclavas -- pushed him back into his home at 11pm on Saturday. One then took out the weapon and
Dewsbury Rams 12 Leigh Centurions 31 by Mike Hulme THE Centurions moved a point clear at the top of National League One with a comfortable victory over bottom side Dewsbury. But Leigh's victory could have come at a price with key hooker Paul Rowley picking
POLICE are searching for a woman in connection with fire attacks at three city centre shops. On Wednesday, June 11, four shops were attacked by a mystery fire bug, and thousands of pounds worth of clothes were destroyed. The first fire was reported in
YOUNGSTERS in Preston are going to miss out on a massive music and skateboarding bash because the city's own venue is not up to scratch. Skateboarder Carl Arnfield, 36, had organised the mammoth event and planned to hold it at the city's only skate park
ST JOHN the Evangelist held its official Sunday School Queen Crowning ceremony yesterday. And it was 14-year-old Judith Clark, who has been attending the Worsthorne Sunday School since she was three years old who took over from the previous Queen -- Samantha
A LEADING Muslim figure is to speak at the first AGM of the Building Bridges in Burnley initiative. Iqbal Sacrenr, secretary of the Muslim Parliament of Great Britain will be speaking at Stoneyholme and Daneshouse Youth and Community Centre tonight. Building
TWO Burnley students who had just 24 hours to get as far away from Britain as possible managed to travel 300 miles. Edward Milne, and Chris Visser both 20, beat four other teams who set off from Nottingham on Monday. The modern-day Phileas Fogg and Passepartout
YOUNGSTERS from one of Burnley's most deprived wards have been helping to bridge gaps in the community. As part of the Brunshaw Action Group Project, which has been supported by police, youngsters aged between 10-17 accompanied some of the older members
WORK on redesigning a Colne town centre car park is due to start next month. The scheme to help improve Dockray Street car park is set to begin in the first week of the school's summer holiday's, the week beginning July 7. The work is expected to last
THE start of Pendle's 43rd Schools Festival began this weekend with performances in dance. On Saturday displays of country dancing took place at Reedley, Holy Saviour's, St John and St Michael and All Angels' Primary Schools. The Music, Drama and Gymnastics
TO successfully battle against cancer once in your lifetime is a remarkable feat of bravery whatever age you may be. But 12-year-old Becky Baxter from Clayton-le-Moors has beaten the disease twice in her short life. Now, mum Karen is nominating her for
ROVERS fans sang 'Walking in a Shearer Wonderland' for the first time in two years when the former Ewood hero grabbed England's opening World Cup goal. Shearer scored the first in a 2-0 win against Tunisia.
IT was tap, cackle and pop when the Big Breakfast show burst in on Mark and Katie Shaw. Presenter Paul Ross woke up the couple, from St George's Road, Nelson, with 10 tap dancing girls from Blackburn Dance Centre.
A MAN was arrested for stabbing another man as he slept with his girlfriend early on Saturday. George Freeston, 46, from Church, was arrested and charged with one count of wounding. He was due to appear before Hyndburn magistrates today. Police were called
TERRIFIED garage staff were robbed at gunpoint by a man who ran off with the cash till. The incident occurred in the forecourt of Syd Browns garage, Berry Lane, Longridge, at 10pm, yesterday. Inspector Clive Cope of Blackburn Police said: "A male with
FORGET all those new computer shoot 'em ups and take a step back into the world of historic console games. The creaky old games consoles of the seventies and eighties have become fashionable of late, lending credibility to many an advert, album sleeve
CLARETS legend Andy Payton is back in football after signing a deal with non-league minnows Stalybridge Celtic. Celts' boss Dave Miller has pulled off a sensational swoop for Payton after wooing the striker following his release from the Turf Moor payroll
STAN Ternent is facing fierce competition for the signature of Burnley utility man Graham Branch. Boss Ternent will this week step up talks aimed at keeping out-of-contract Branch at Turf Moor next season. But First Division rivals Rotherham and former
ENFIELD and Haslingden reached the semi-finals of the Inter League Challenge Trophy with the help of substitute professionals on Saturday. It wasn't all plain sailing at Enfield where the home side had to call up former Great Harwood professional Farhan
HASLINGDEN'S climb up the ladder continued as they notched a seven wicket win at RISHTON - their sixth successive league victory. The home side batted first and made 206-7 with their Kiwi professional Rob Nicol hitting an unbeaten 88. He was given good
TROY Corser's retirement in the second race of round six of the World Superbike championship at Silverstone capped a frustrating debut on British soil for Foggy PETRONAS Racing. The Australian had finished the first race in 16th position after an early
NEIL Hodgson flags, number 100 shirts and even a girl wanting her Chanel bikini signed - the Burnley racer was finally aware he had made it. After years of battling on the British and World circuit, Hodgson came home to Silverstone and got the hero's
THE spectators were treated to a feast of run scoring at Beech Walk as the batsmen took advantage of the perfect conditions and a flat wicket to amass a total of 463 runs. Unfortunately, EDS Leigh went down to their third league defeat of the season against
ATHERTON CC are fast becoming one of the most generous teams in the Bolton Association. For the third time this season they threw away a winning position and gifted the match to Adlington. After restricting their opponents to a gettable 167, the Higham
CLARETS legend Andy Payton is back in football after signing a deal with non-league minnows Stalybridge Celtic. Celts' boss Dave Miller has pulled off a sensational swoop for Payton after wooing the striker following his release from the Turf Moor payroll
IT chucked it down on Friday. It pelted it down on Sunday. But Radcliffe enjoyed one of its best carnivals ever thanks to the glorious sunshine on Saturday, June 7. "I was over the moon when I looked out on Saturday morning and saw the blue skies," said
SORRY but I'm back on the growing old bandwagon --- piling on even more evidence as to why, for me, the so-called golden years are no longer just a distant blip on the horizon. Scientists claim to have unearthed the reasons why older people look upon
ELDERLY Darreners are in need of volunteers to help out in the town's day care centre. The centre, which runs at Derwent Hall five days-a-week, is looking for volunteers to help look after elderly visitors on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. Doreen Hicken
A HEAD teacher today welcomed the decision to site a new football pitch at his school as a great move for the local community. The facility will be built at Holy Trinity Primary School, Bank Top, Darwen, once work starts on the town's £11million health
A FIRST World War memorial is to be returned to East Lancashire after turning up among antiques and old furniture at an auction in Suffolk. The wooden memorial contained the names of 64 Blackburn soldiers and was originally housed in Chapel Street Congregational
AN elderly couple were terrified when a masked intruder pushed his way into their home before demanding cash. Police have branded the crime 'despicable' and are desperate to catch the ski-mask wearing offender. The incident happened at the home of Norman
AN Iraqi asylum seeker has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murdering a fellow countryman in a Blackburn street. And Judge Peter Openshaw QC, recorder of Preston, ordered that Samduddin Farhan Hamad should be deported once
A WEALTHY American family and an offshore investment trust have provided the £100million for the purchase of Blackburn shopping centre. In a complex deal, current owners Standard Life have effectively sold the remaining 140 years of the lease it had from
A FAMILY today spoke of their Father's Day horror after memorial lights were stolen from a gravestone. Douglas Power, 31, of East Park Avenue, Blackburn, was furious to discover the theft from his father's grave in Blackburn's Pleasington Cemetery. His
A FOUR-week Spring into Action campaign, which was organised by Lancashire County Commercial Services to encourage secondary school pupils to order a healthy school lunch, has proved a big success. Now health experts are calling on East Lancashire parents
SCHOOL MOTTO: We have created an environment at Edge End that is not only safe but one that takes positive action to develop mutual respect. We have four principal aims: to help individual pupils understand and respect the world in which they live, to
THE calming aura that surrounds Kim Burton would put even the most unruly of students at ease. Her friendly tone and self-assured manner claims the attention of students at Darwen Moorland High School within an instant. No wonder then that she received
CENTURIONS are still awaiting ticket allocation details from the RFL regarding the Arriva Trains Final at Rochdale on July 6. An announcement is expected this week.
A 47-year-old man left critically injured after his car collided head-on with another vehicle on a motorway was still fighting for his life in hospital today. The Radcliffe man's egistered Volkswagen Passat collided with the BMW driven by a 29-year-old
A MAN escaped unhurt after arsonists poured petrol through his front door letterbox. Police are investigating the attack which happened at 4am on Sunday in Dudley Avenue, Whitefield. The 30-year-old was woken by his smoke alarm and escaped. He was unhurt
A HUGE beaded carousel made by a group of Clitheroe craftswomen has come out tops in a national craft competition. The Tollhouse Beaders, based at Halfpenney's Coffee Shop and Embroidery Centre in Parson Lane, have constructed the carousel from tens of
EARLIER this month the European Space Agency launched its first interplanetary probe, the Mars Express. The Beagle 2 project (www.beagle2.com) is the British-led effort to land on Mars. The site offers you a behind-the-scenes look at the craft and the
IN August/September 2003 two students from the University of Durham will row the length of the longest river in continental Europe - The Danube. Their site (www.rowingthedanube.org.uk) will tell you who these mad-cap twosome are and the charitable work
LANCASHIRE join cricket's 20-20 revolution at Trent Bridge tonight sitting pretty in the promotion places of the old-fashioned 45-over National League. It was old favourites Glen Chapple and Peter Martin who kept their cool in a frantic finish at Derby
JUSTIN Kemp's timely intervention sent Enfield to the top of the Lancashire League yesterday with a nine-run win over Church. The sub pro stepped in with five wickets to halt Church at a time when they were heading for victory at 150-1, chasing the home
GRAEME Souness today insisted Dwight Yorke still has a future at Ewood -- despite media speculation claiming the Rovers chief wants to off-load him. Recent stories emanating from the national Press tried to suggest that Souness was lining up a swap deal
A WOMAN has followed in her mother's footsteps to become the Darwen area chairman of the Ladies Circle. Nicola Walkden-McGrady, of Lightbown Street, took up the prestigious position this month after years in the organisation. Her mother, Janet, fulfilled
ROSSENDALE Music Festival was in full swing over the weekend when young and old alike took part in the annual event. Juniors performed in musical harmony at St James Primary School, Haslingden, while adults were hitting the high notes in the church hall
YOUNG people have been revolutionising the way they eat at school thanks to a fun healthy eating campaign. Pupils have been enjoying the delights of healthy food rather than junk food in school. And as an incentive for pupils across Rossendale to take
YOUNGSTERS from Mellor St Mary's CE Primary School found themselves 'sprechen der Deutsche' when they visited the German department at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School. And ten-year-old Alicia Wade tested the Blackburn school's new language laboratory
A TEENAGER who showed "complete disregard" for driving disqualifications was sent to a young offender institute for five months by Blackburn magistrates. The court heard that Danny Riley had six previous convictions for driving while disqualified when
CHOIR practice at one school in Blackburn, is not just about learning the words to the song. Newfield Special School's Signing Choir uses sign language as a major performance feature. Now the choir has received praise from education watchdog inspectors
ANDREW Harrison went in search of his partner of seven years when she stormed out of their home following a row, a court was told. And Blackburn magistrates heard the couple could not agree on what happened next and a special court hearing would have
A COMPANY manager from Blackburn has been fined £5,000 after a man drowned in a vat of paint at a car plant. Peter Preston, and colleague Paul McKenzie were responsible for health and safety when technical trouble-shooter Chris Shute, 30, of Winchester
THE family of a worker who drowned in paint at a car factory are taking legal action against the Blackburn man who was in charge of safety. They are filing a civil action against Peter Preston, 51, of Rowen Park, his colleague Paul McKenzie and car giant
BLACKBURN Shopping Centre has been sold to an investment company for £100million. The buyer, London-based REIT Asset Management, is said to have a track record of improving town centres but opposition councillors are concerned that no concrete guarantees
BURY'S live arts venue, The Met, has a 'spring' in its step thanks to a new programme of events which demonstrate a broadening of the venue's horizons. The Met will be offering more touring fringe theatre, the best of national and regional comedy and
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. St Teresa's Church (Blackburn) Charity Shop, Lord Street West, Blackburn, 10am-4pm. Blackburn Fellowship for the Hard of Hearing, Ardley Centre, Bent Street, Blackburn
NEWS that Blackburn Shopping Centre has been sold brings with it renewed hope for rejuvenation that is so sorely needed. Regeneration chief Coun Andy Kay says he has "reason to be more optimistic than ever before" that something will be done about Lord
THERE is nothing better than pulling on crisp new clothes - especially when you have designed them for yourself. Pupils at Ivy Bank Business College, Blackburn, will enjoy such a privilege in the new term. Better still, the new uniforms could make them
IN response to the article headlined "Join in and help bust grot spots" (LET, May 22), an area directly next to my house is constantly being used as a rubbish tip. On a number of occasions, I have found various items just dumped there, including household
THE fuss and condemnation which seems to surprise Mr J Pilkington (Letters, May 25) is over the way in which untruths are being used to instil fear and hatred. The BNP is the only political party which uses such dishonest and underhand tricks to obtain
THE DANGERS of kitchen fires have been highlighted by firemen after three local people had to be rescued from their homes. A woman was pulled to safety by her next door neighbour in Leigh after going to bed forgetting she had left a chip pan on. And a
A MASKED raider kicked a pensioner and dragged him along the floor by his feet after bursting into his home and demanding money. Police leading the hunt for the attacker, who threatened to kill the 77-year-old victim and his wife, have branded the crime
SOAP star Joe Carter (alias Jonathan Wrather) brought smiles to hundreds of youngsters when he opened the summer fair at Park View Primary School. The Coronation Street actor shrugged off his bad boy image for the day and happily signed autographs for
CONGREGATIONS from St Stephen's CE Church and Bolton Road Methodist Church in Bury joined forces for the annual Walk of Witness. Despite the heavy rainfall, almost 200 churchgoers turned out to demonstrate their faith. And pictured checking if the rain
GRAEME Souness today insisted Dwight Yorke still has a future at Ewood -- despite media speculation claiming the Rovers chief wants to off-load him. Recent stories emanating from the national Press tried to suggest that Souness was lining up a swap deal
BLACKBURN Rovers are in talks with Chievo, the new sensations of Italian football, about a pre-season friendly. Rovers are currently investigating the possibility of wrapping up their preparations for the new campaign with a game against the Serie A outfit
A PRESTON man is waiting to have an organ transplant operation that would give him back the life he once had. For Kenneth Rufus, 53, of Woodville Road, Penwortham, needs of a new kidney after suferring from a genetic organ disorder. The father-of-two
AN INTER-community carnival is set to be held in Burnley this summer after the Rank Foundation charity gave a £90,000 grant to police. The money will support various projects in the town over the next three years aimed at improving community cohesion.
MOURNERS grieved the loss of tragic Lee Mulby with two poignant chart songs. Family, friends and workmates were greeted by Coldplay's 'Warning Sign' at St Catherine's Church, Burnley, to help remember the "one in a million" 30-year-old father of two who
A MAN arrested after a mid-air brawl on an airliner has vowed to control his behaviour by embarking on an anger management course. Stephen Hyatt, 46, of Chapelhouse Road, Nelson, decided to take action after an incident on board a Britannia aircraft last
A £2MILLION bid for funding will bring office development, more civic spaces and the transformation of some of Nelson town centre's main shopping streets. Pendle Council officers have had discussions with the North West Development Agency in relation
POLICE in Radcliffe are appealing for information following a burglary at the home of an asylum seeker on Friday. The victim, a 54-year-old Iraqi was woken at about 3.30am when he was confronted by a man who threatened him with a knife and demanded cash
ONE of the biggest events on Colne's calendar is coming to town this weekend. And the buzz is already in the air as people get ready for the massive one-day event. The annual gala is being held on Holt House playing fields on Saturday, which organisers
RESIDENTS of a sheltered housing scheme in Earby are set to be consulted over whether their accomocation should be upgraded. The Executive of Pendle Borough Council will debate the proposal, which involves raising the accomodation at Valley Gardens to
A CAMPAIGNING MP today welcomed the crop of East Lancashire gongs in the Birthday Honours but insisted: "We still aren't getting enough." Hyndburn's Greg Pope stepped up his 'Going, Going, Gongs' campaign last week by putting down an Early Day Motion
A RISHTON soldier who blew up dozens of Iraqi mines and rockets to protect civilians revealed today he could not wait to get home to a McDonald's feast. Stephen Barnsley, 25, returned from Iraq last Monday after spending four months in the Gulf working
