Archive

  • EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Wednesday, July 2

    A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. East Lancashire Animal Welfare Charity Shop, Lord Street West, Blackburn, 10am-4pm. Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," Hoghton Tower, 7.30pm. Until July 12. Blackburn Ramblers

  • No democracy in Europe

    IT is one of the great ironies of history that the European Union, a creation of democratic European nations, is totally undemocratic, would fail its own conditions for membership and is a major threat to the freedom. It is the product of a failed political

  • Teenage biker still critical

    A 15-year-old boy is still in a critical condition in hospital after his off-road motorbike collided with another bike at a disused colliery in Leigh. The teenager, who has not been named, suffered head, leg and chest injuries following the accident at

  • 'Grooming for sex' advice man is jailed

    THE father of a schoolgirl groomed for sex by an advice worker who she rang for help today insisted: "This must never be allowed to happen again." His plea came as 21-year-old Martin Tibbett began a 15-month jail sentence for three counts of indecently

  • Bury climbs to top of tax collection league

    BURY is top of the Greater Manchester league when it comes to collecting council tax. In the year 2002/03, the council brought in 97.3 per cent of the £49.03 million owed to it, up from 96.9 per cent during the same period in the previous year. This is

  • Woman's stolen card shopping spree

    A DRUG-addicted woman went on a £159 shopping spree with a stolen credit card, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how Nicola Jane Eltoft, 24, was subject to a conditional discharge at the time. She was given a drug treatment and testing order

  • Crackdown to protect schools

    YOUNGSTERS are being warned they could face prosecution this summer if they are caught on school grounds without authority. The warning comes as part of a police crackdown on criminal damage at schools across Padiham. Community Beat Officers and response

  • Horror tackle court victory

    A FORMER footballer from Burnley has won his legal battle against a fellow professional who ended his career with a horror tackle. Chris Casper, whose father is the former Burnley Football Club manager Frank Casper, was left with horrific injuries after

  • Dunfield injury rocks Shakers

    BURY'S pre-season preparations have been hit by the news that midfielder Terry Dunfield is set to miss the start of the new campaign. The little Canadian schemer has once again dislocated his problem shoulder, this time while swimming on holiday in Mexico

  • Bikes crash dad and son recovering

    A FATHER and son from Radcliffe are improving in hospital after they were seriously injured when two motorbikes collided head on in Abbey Village near Chorley. Neil Chadwick, aged 44, suffered multiple leg breaks and a hand injury, while pillion passenger

  • Five years ago

    FITNESS fanatic Diane Bonaminio beat competition from thousands of contenders to win a place on TV's Gladiators. Diane, 31, from Lammack, Blackburn, was one of 32 finalists set for the the autumn series of the show.

  • Man woke up to find snake in bedroom

    TERRIFIED Shakil Ahmed today spoke of the moment a slithering intruder woke him up with a good-morning hiss! The foot-long admirer, nicknamed Cedric, climbed on to Mr Ahmed's bed and was peering at him over the duvet when he opened his eyes. "I'm not

  • Club row brought punch

    A LATE night dispute in Clitheroe town centre resulted in Tony Stevenson "lamping" another man, a court was told. But when Stevenson came into court sporting a black eye, Blackburn magistrates heard that rough justice had already been meted out by associates

  • Ex-soldier wins EU flag battle

    A EX-SOLDIER has claimed victory in his war with a town council which flew a European Union flag over a war memorial. Michael Woods launched a campaign to get the European flag, which flew on a pole behind Longridge's main war memorial, removed after

  • Papadopoulos puzzle

    THE future of Clarets' striker Dimitrios Papadopoulos has been thrown into doubt following suggestions of an imminent return to Greece. Sources in Athens claim crack outfit Panathinaikos have lodged a bid of 350,000 Euros - around £240,000 - for the Greek

  • The goal that sparked a riot

    ONE topic still dominates conversations with Steve Kindon - the day he caused a riot in Burnley. Kindon was the jet-heeled, powerhouse striker bought in November 1977 to dovetail with Paul Fletcher and spark a revival following a dismal start to the season

  • Horror tackle court victory

    A FORMER footballer from Burnley has won his legal battle against a fellow professional who ended his career with a horror tackle. Chris Casper, whose father is the former Burnley Football Club manager Frank Casper, was left with horrific injuries after

  • Family fun

    A BLACKBURN pub is hosting a special charity Fun Day on Sunday. The Fox and Hounds in Ewood is playing to host to the event organised by the Blackburn and District Motorcycle Club. Numerous stalls and face painting for children will take place from noon

  • Rovers prepare to make move

    EWOOD chief John Williams today predicted things will start to hot-up on the transfer front in the next fortnight as Rovers close in on a number of targets. So far, Graeme Souness has chosen to bide his time in the transfer market as he formulates his

  • Spurned lover killed woman who mocked him

    A MAN has been convicted of killing a law student whose battered and naked body was found floating in the River Ribble seven years ago. Andrew Greenwood, aged 29, of Sephton Street, Lostock Hall, was found not guilty of the murder of Janet Morgatroyd

  • Dumped kittens need a home

    A CAT rescuer is today appealing to the public to find a home for three kittens left for dead on the banks of the River Darwen. The three six-week-old females were dumped in a holdall near Shorey Bank two weeks ago and a rescuer wants loving homes for

  • Seats available on regeneration board

    DARWEN residents are invited to have their say on the town's regeneration board. Three positions are available on the 20-strong board which will have the final say in the future blueprint of Darwen. Adam Scott, council director of regeneration, housing

  • Thrown-out flats plan will go to inspectors

    A CONTROVERSIAL planning application is set to be decided by Government inspectors after a council refused to give it permission. Councillors threw out an outline planning application for another eight flats, in addition to the 16 at the Old Schoolhouse

  • 'Grooming for sex' advice man is jailed

    THE father of a schoolgirl groomed for sex by an advice worker who she rang for help today insisted: "This must never be allowed to happen again." His plea came as 21-year-old Martin Tibbett began a 15-month jail sentence for three counts of indecently

  • Football team to celebrate promotion with party

    PLAYERS from Bacup Borough will celebrate promotion from the North West Counties League Division Two, to Division One with celebrations on Sunday. Supporters are invited to join the players and manager Brent Peters from 4pm. The West View players will

  • Taxi booze ban idea for safety drive

    A BAN on people drinking alcohol in taxis could be consdiered as part of a plan to make Rossendale people feel safer. The idea from Councillor Nick Pilling came as the council considered a draft community safety policy which will be adopted across all

  • New report aims to help homeless

    WORKING together is the way forward when it comes to the way Rossendale Council deals with homelessness -- according to a new strategy. Rossendale's Homeless Strategy and Review is to be published in a bid to tackle the problem in the borough. Questionnaires

  • Zero tolerance on checkpoint roads

    LAW-breaking motorists are being targeted in a zero-tolerance crackdown and are warned there will be no excuses. Police in Blackburn are on the lookout for drivers who speed, do not wear seatbelts, carry too many passengers and park illegally over the

  • Deli bar is allowed to stay open

    ONE man's battle with a council over his small deli bar is finally over after new conditions were attached to a decision to let him remain open. For the last year, Barrowford man Ian Finch has faced the prospect of being forced out of business after he

  • Murder jury hears chilling tape

    A TEENAGER smashed her lover's skull in a jealous rage because she believed her partner was having an affair with a man, a court was told. Divorced mum-of-two Mandy Burton, 30, died three days later following the attack with a blunt weapon by Louise Berry

  • Scandal of the dry fountain

    I COULDN'T believe what I was reading, so I read it again -- your article headlined "Idle £150,000 fountain branded a 'disgrace'" (LET, June 19). I can fully understand how chairman of Accrington Civic Trust Alan Benson is so annoyed. How could this be

  • Apologies for traffic chaos

    I APOLOGISE to the residents of the Edisford, Henthorn and Low Moor areas of Clitheroe, and indeed to anyone who found themselves caught up in the traffic chaos at Roefield over the weekend of June 21 and 22. Clitheroe Wolves held a football tournament

  • Chairman cross over questions

    I WOULD like to make a public apology for my comments at the Lancashire Police Authority Community Meeting in Hyndburn on Thursday, June 19. I had understood the notices announcing the meetings to say 'Have your say,' 'Topics for discussion' and 'Lancashire's

  • Schools day of reckoning looms

    AS A primary school governor and the stepfather of a secondary school student, I am increasingly concerned about the impending crisis in education funding. Both schools to which I refer are particularly well-managed and received glowing reports following

  • Jobs blow for Darwen

    CRISIS-HIT Crown Wallcoverings made 177 workers redundant at its Darwen plant today - with the threat of more job losses to come. Receivers Ernst & Young, who were brought in last week in a bid to rescue the company, made the announcement after calling

  • Come and join us!

    YOUNG people are hoping to be the pride of the community. Bury New Century Lions, a social and welfare club for those aged 18 to 35, has been launched. The club, one of the first in the country, is a new organisation linked to the Lions International

  • Rovers prepare to make move

    EWOOD chief John Williams today predicted things will start to hot-up on the transfer front in the next fortnight as Rovers close in on a number of targets. So far, Graeme Souness has chosen to bide his time in the transfer market as he formulates his

  • Policy debate challenge to BNP

    THE British National Party's eight councillors will be called upon to put their policies to the test when they take their seats at this week's full council meeting. Senior Labour councillor Peter Kenyon will put forward a motion calling for the BNP members

  • MP fearful of jobs axe falling at firm

    BURNLEY MP Peter Pike has spoken of his concern at the news that major Burnley employer the Papermarc Group had gone into receivership three years after a management buy-out, leaving almost 250 jobs at risk. The company, which employs 249 people at its

  • Cliviger Bulletin

    SCARLETT'S Stride, the annual 12 mile walk/run around Cliviger, will take place on Saturday September 21. Details for entry will be available later. An event of this kind needs an extensive team of volunteers for its organisation, and anyone interested

  • We won't tolerate violence at demos

    ZERO-tolerance of trouble-makers in Burnley will be adopted at this week's full council meeting, police have warned. Nine people were arrested in May after violence erupted outside Burnley Town Hall as the British National Party's councillors attended

  • Rebuild will provide extra classrooms

    LANCASHIRE County Council may demolish and rebuild a Nelson nursery. Plans for Walton Lane Nursery also include seven car parking spaces and the demolition of two timber classrooms. The new buildings will provide improved facilities and extra teaching

  • Farmer could be ordered to tidy land

    A PENDLE farmer could be forced to tidy up his land and remove everything, including a kitchen sink. Pendle Council's legal and planning team has targeted Brown House in Gisburn Old Road, Brogden after complaints from the public. Despite officers visiting

  • Carer Tracey wins national acclaim

    A NURSERY nurse has won a national accolade for her work in setting up a specialist baby unit at a Foulridge nursery. Tracey Smith, of Dudley Street, Colne, won runner-up prize in the final of the Prima Baby Nursery Worker of the Year, part of the Kids

  • Hope for Indian children thanks to caring doctor

    IN our third Pride of East Lancashire Award we are searching for vocational workers who go above and beyond the call of duty to help others. Earlier this year a medical team from East Lancashire did just that. The team headed to India in a mission to

  • Ten years ago

    A TRIBUTE was unveiled to Blackburn's famous ambassadors -- the Thwaites shire horses. The gentle giants were immortalised in a brick mural in Eanam, Blackburn.

  • Husband's affair led to drunken breach of peace

    A WOMAN confronted her husband over an alleged affair before begging police not to arrest her for a breach of the peace, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that Alicia Bolt, 40, had only been married for 10 months when she discovered her husband's

  • Rape alleged 'after pub meeting'

    A 'VULNERABLE and damaged' woman was allegedly raped in her new home after a man turned up and asked her if she wanted sex, a jury heard. James McKee, 31, was 'absolutely wasted' when he arrived at his lesbian victim's flat in the early hours after earlier

  • 'I lost my baby due to break-in'

    A YOUNG woman today revealed the stress of a break-in at her Oswaldtwistle home caused her to lose her baby. Tracy Millward returned after a day out to find the house in Union Road turned upside down and property missing, including cherished family heirlooms

  • Pope rejects need for Gulf War probe

    EAST Lancashire MP Greg Pope has rejected calls for an independent inquiry headed by a judge into the run-up to the Gulf War. He says that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Commons of which he is a member is doing a good job in examining whether the

  • Law aim to reach milestone

    STUART Law has the chance to reach 20,000 first class runs on the ground where he was so prolific for Essex as Lancashire return to Championship action against his old county at Chelmsford tomorrow. But the Queenslander insists he would rather do it at

  • Landlords bowl over pub rivals

    BLACKBURN has every right to be proud of its landlords and landladies as they proved to be among the best licensee bowlers in North West. The Blackburn LVA beat their counterparts from the Ribble Valley, Blackpool and Lancaster to win an annual bowling

  • New venture looks rosy for landlady Pat

    COLNE landlady Pat Sharkey crossed the Pennines in search of a new venture and everything turned out 'rosy'. For the 52-year-old host at the Commercial Hotel on Skipton Road has put her Red Rose allegiances to one side to take up the reins at Halifax

  • Fusilier stalwart dies, aged 66

    FUSILIER stalwart Major John Hallam has died after a brief illness. Until November 1999 the Major was the North West secretary of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, based at Wellington Barracks in Bury. He held the post for 18 years. Major Hallam (66) died

  • Papadopoulos puzzle

    THE future of Clarets' striker Dimitrios Papadopoulos has been thrown into doubt following suggestions of an imminent return to Greece. Sources in Athens claim crack outfit Panathinaikos have lodged a bid of 350,000 Euros - around £240,000 - for the Greek

  • Get in line for skating bonanza

    TOP British skaters will be visiting Darwen's Rhythm Skate Park tomorrow night. The 'Warped' skate tour, which features some of Britain's up and coming inline skaters, will feature alongside graffiti artists and breakdancers who have promised to make

  • Jobs blow for Darwen

    CRISIS-HIT Crown Wallcoverings made 177 workers redundant at its Darwen plant today - with the threat of more job losses to come. Receivers Ernst & Young, who were brought in last week in a bid to rescue the company, made the announcement after calling

  • Officer appointed

    ROSSENDALE Council's chief executive Owen Williams has been appointed as the council's returning officer. Mr Owen, who joined the council in May, will take over the reins from Mark Weston, director of corporate support, from today. He was officially appointed

  • Pupils brush up on art

    PUPILS in East Lancashire schools are enjoying lessons with an artistic twist as part of a national campaign. Big Arts Week aims to get artists to volunteer their time and share skills in schools. Staff at Action Factory Community Arts Ltd, in partnership

  • Typhoon finally flies in for RAF

    THE Eurofighter Typhoon has been officially handed over to the Royal Air Force after more than a decade of development. BAE Systems' chief executive Sir Richard Evans was joined by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Peter Squire, and Defence

  • Planning councillor in centre of rules rumpus

    A COUNCILLOR found herself at the centre of a Blackburn committee rumpus when she tried to speak and vote on a planning application she had already said she would oppose. Coun Sheila Williams indicated she wanted to speak against plans to extend a house

  • Housing help 'to carry on after £4m boost'

    MPS today moved to reassure people living in poor houses across East Lancashire that more Government help was on the way. The move came after the Government handed out another £4million to the East Lancashire Pathfinder project, which was set up to sort

  • Stanley's TV debut

    ACCRINGTON Stanley will kick off their Conference campaign live on Sky TV. The satellite channel has selected the Reds' opening day trip to Aldershot for live viewing at 5pm on Sunday, August 10. It will be the first time in their proud history that Stanley

  • Preston let Rankine go

    STALWART midfielder Mark Rankine has parted company with Preston North End, the club has confirmed The 33-year-old still had one year left to run on his contract but has struck a deal with club bosses which means he is now a free agent. Rankine - or Shabba

  • Shakers snap up O'Neill

    PRESTON striker Joe O'Neill will this week join Third Division Bury on loan for the season - on the day his new Deepdale deal takes effect. The Blackburn-born 20-year-old, brother of Burnley youth team star Matty, will start at the Gigg Lane club tomorrow

  • Stanley's TV debut

    ACCRINGTON Stanley will kick off their Conference campaign live on Sky TV. The satellite channel has selected the Reds' opening day trip to Aldershot for live viewing at 5pm on Sunday, August 10. It will be the first time in their proud history that Stanley

  • Water walks will improve canals

    CANAL towpaths will echo to the sound of marching feet this autumn when the second Walk On Water event takes place. The Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal walk, on Sunday October 26 is one of nine individual inland waterway walks taking place across the