Archive

  • Extra dental cash welcome

    WITH dental health in East Lancashire among the worst in the country and less than half the people in the region having access to an NHS dentist, there is bound to be a welcome for the move to give health chiefs greater power to deal with the problem.

  • Cycle Speedway: Ben shines in his own right

    IT was a week of individual racing for members of the Bury-Pedal sport, both locally and nationally, and celebrations and congratulations are in order, in several cases and at different levels. Top of the list has to be Ben Scranage who took the Manchester

  • Cricket: Kiwi Chris on hand to inspire the Rams

    IN Saturday's game at Acre Bottom it took Ramsbottom's substitute Professional Chris Harris 24.4 overs before he got his first wicket. But the Acre Bottom side weren't concerned one iota as the popular New Zealander had only gone for 54 runs in that spell

  • Amateur soccer: Sloppy Vale throw it away again

    Elton Vale ... 3 Dukinfield Town ... 3 FOR the second time in the space of four days Vale threw away a two goal lead and had to settle for a point. Steve Elwell who had a hand in the opening goal on fifteen minutes when his rising drive bounced down from

  • RATS' double-bill

    A NIGHT of comedy and music awaits audiences in Ribchester Amateur Theatrical Society's double bill of one-act plays next week. The RATS will stage Owen Phillips's Both Alike In Dignity and David Campton's Mutatis Mutandis in the parochial hall, Ribchester

  • Put your own town in order first

    PERISH the thought that Blackburn with Darwen Council may end up ruling the rest of East Lancashire. They can't get it right in their own town, never mind anyone else's. This town is a disgrace. It is dirty, badly planned with very few quality shops,

  • Inquiries 'choice' all about profits

    THE massive hype about the ending of the 192 Director Inquiries telephone service should not be allowed to obscure important basic facts. There is now a confusing array of 'choice,' with tariffs that are difficult to understand, let alone compare. Several

  • Speed fine miles don't add up

    I HAVE just opened my correspondence and lo and behold, I have received a prediction from a clairvoyant, that now is the time of massive good luck and fortune in these coming months. At the same time, I received a very nice letter from no less the Chief

  • No link between race and country

    THERE is a clear difference between racism and patriotism, despite what John Cave (Letters, August 26) might think. Patriotism is the love of one's country, while racism is the belief that certain races are superior -- and therefore others are inferior

  • Residents spared more road misery

    RESIDENTS badly hit by summer road closures in Leigh have breathed a sigh of relief with the delay of an environmental clean-up scheme. Originally the £11m project, designed to help prevent litter from the sewer system getting into local watercourses,

  • Thugs take phone and trainers

    ATTACKERS escaped with a teenager's £250 mobile phone and his trainers following a street robbery in Radcliffe. The victim, aged 19, was punched in the face after he refused to hand over his mobile to two men in Dumers Lane at 9pm on Friday (Aug 29).

  • Saint the sinner in Fergie blast

    FADING football pundit Ian St John has whipped up a major storm in Scotland by claiming that Barry Ferguson has made a 'monumental error' in quitting Rangers for Blackburn Rovers. The former Liverpool striker has risked the wrath of Rovers fans by slating

  • Bike seized in nuisance crackdown

    A QUAD bike has been seized by police in Burnley as part of their continued crackdown on motorcycle nuisance. The vehicle, seized in the Kibble Bank area of Burnley last Thursday, is the third taken by police. Two motorbikes, from Kibble Bank and Padiham

  • Cliviger Bulletin

    THIS week is Cliviger Challenge Week. Tonight there is a Health and Education consultation evening at the Village Hall, between 6.30 and 8.30. Everyone is invited to go along to see what the steering group have come up with in these areas, and to make

  • Travellers' pet dog bites council officer

    A COUNCIL official serving court notices to travellers was bitten on the ankle by one of their dogs, a report has revealed. Estates officer Angela Stuttard was bitten by the animal in Ball Park Grove, Colne, last month. A report into the events of the

  • Board had no choice

    LOOKING at Alistair Campbell and Stan Ternent on Saturday, it was difficult to gauge who had endured the more difficult week. While Campbell had recently undergone the stresses and strains of the Hutton inquiry coupled with handing his notice in at Number

  • Five years ago

    A BALLOON race took place outside King Street Working Men's Club in Accrington. The event, which also included a Gladiator contest and fancy dress, was organised by club steward Brian Hoole in aid of Chaigley Manor children's holiday home.

  • Ten years ago

    WACKY fund-raisers slurped and spluttered their way through bowls of spaghetti bolognese for charity. Six blindfolded pasta guzzlers, including regular Paul Brereton, took up the sponsored challenge at Owd Ned's near Whalley, for charities to help the

  • Don't let pessimists get you down

    THREE games in and it's happened. I did wonder how long it would take but sure enough after the first blip of the season against Manchester City I heard the immortal words: "We're missing Duff and Dunn, we should never have sold them." To be honest, I'm

  • Scrap man jailed for attack

    A SCRAP metal dealer who attacked a father-of-two has been jailed for 12 months. Thomas Smith, 26, who runs three scrap yards, was told by Judge Raymond Bennett that he was lucky not to receive a longer sentence. Burnley Crown Court heard Smith, of The

  • Firms can broaden on-line horizons

    BAND aid is now available for enterprising Bury companies who want to harness the benefits of e-business. Small and medium-sized firms across the borough and elsewhere in Greater Manchester can now get free broadband access and allow them to undertake

  • Little on loan as duo join

    BURNLEY winger Glen Little is hoping to seal a "dream move" to the Premiership after joining Bolton in a shock deadline day loan. The Clarets ace, who refused the offer of a new contract last week, has joined the Trotters on a month long deal that sees

  • Steve toasts the new White Bear

    MANAGER Steven Robinson is toasting the re-opening of the pub he runs in Barrowford. Steven, of The White Bear in Gisburn Road, has been manager there for six months. The pub closed for a complete refurbishment on July 5. The doors re-opened on August

  • David carries on a tradition

    TWENTY-one year-old David Johnson claims to be the youngest pub licensee in Hyndburn. And although David is young in years he has vast experience which he hopes will stand him in good stead as he takes over the running of the Peel Park pub in Turkey Street

  • Cricket: Kay brings smiles to Elton

    ELTON breezed past Daisy Hill at the weekend to strengthen their position in the top half of the table. Elton batted first and were indebted to young Chris Read's half-century for a good start. Mark Goddard (64*) and Peter Kay (42*) then pushed the total

  • Cricket: Morris leads the way again with the bat

    A RUN drought on Saturday was followed by a run feast on Sunday as Greenmount had a weekend of contrasting fortunes. At Horwich on Saturday the village side batted first but struggled on a slow wicket and their entire team were all back in the hut 90

  • Cole's hot form down to hard work

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today hailed Andy Cole following the striker's explosive start to the new season. Cole shot to the top of the Premiership's goalscoring charts with another deadly brace against Chelsea at the weekend. The former England hit-man

  • Little on loan as duo join

    BURNLEY winger Glen Little is hoping to seal a "dream move" to the Premiership after joining Bolton in a shock deadline day loan. The Clarets ace, who refused the offer of a new contract last week, has joined the Trotters on a month long deal that sees

  • Health centre air-conditioning fears

    HEALTH workers fear for patients' comfort at Darwen's new state-of-the-art health centre after learning it may not have air-conditioning. Two workers at the present health centre in Union Street feel the new £11 million centre to be built behind Darwen

  • I was that stupid fool...

    A PRANKSTER who had to be rescued after climbing a 300ft mill chimney for a bet today apologised for his reckless behaviour. John Gray, of Tythebarn Street, Darwen, climbed 50 feet onto the roof of the town's India Mill and then went on to the top of

  • Flying high

    FLOURISHING Prestwich design and communication specialist Appleby Bowers is flying high. The Bury Old Road company has created a distinctive corporate identity for a new air industry maintenance and support company. Aerocare is part of the Warrington-based

  • Speed policy for 999 calls

    BOSSES have explained their "common sense" driving policy for Lancashire fire crews in the wake of speed limits being imposed on West Midlands colleagues. The Association of British Drivers voiced surprise after West Midlands ordered its engine drivers

  • Agency helps find teachers

    MORE teachers than ever are being used on short term contracts to cover sickness and training. Lancashire Teaching Agency was created 12 months ago to tackle complaints by head teachers of endless hours hunting for teachers to fill supply posts. But now

  • DNA on cigarette end traps house burglar

    A BURGLAR who made off with a £300 haul, was caught after leaving a cigarette end. Burnley Crown Court heard that Michael Queen's DNA was found on the cigarette end, but he later told police he could not explain how it got there. Queen, who has spent

  • Council will 'get tough' on parking

    BURNLEY Council is warning motorists it will get tough on illegal parking when it takes over responsibility for on-street parking from police traffic wardens next year. The hand-over, which has already happened in some parts of the country, is expected

  • We want Ribble Valley and Hyndburn

    TOWN Halls are on a collision course after Blackburn with Darwen councillors voted in favour of merging with neighbouring Hyndburn and Ribble Valley. Council leader Sir Bill Taylor told a meeting last night that the three boroughs must merge together

  • Test for Blackburn

    BLACKBURN Under 15s have been given a tough test at Barrow in the first round of this season's English Schools' Inter Association Trophy. The local youngsters usually fare well in the Lancashire Schools' competitions but they have struggled to make an

  • Full strength for Sculpher

    LEE Sculpher's perfect start to the season has been interrupted by a small problem - but it's one most managers would love to have. The Clitheroe manager explained: "I have a full squad to choose from...unfortunately! "It's going to be very difficult.

  • Rams feeling right at home

    RAMSBOTTOM United manager Andy Grimshaw is convinced his side need just one win to kick-start their season -- and what better way to do it than knocking the league leaders out of the FA Cup? That's the task for the Rams tonight as they prepare to face

  • China trip cost

    FOR those readers concerned about the cost of the delegation which visited Datong in China, the air fare was £710.50 per person plus £30 visa cost for five members of the delegation, with the remainder paying their own fares. There was no other cost incurred

  • Is Labour critic "Tory George"?

    I READ with interest the open letter (August 12) from George A. Lee to David Chaytor MP. I presume this is the same George Lee who was, for many years, a paid official of the Conservative Party where he eagerly defended the Poll Tax, wholesale privatisation

  • Crime: there's hope with him in charge

    IN his letter (August 19), J. Holden suggested that I was less than generous to Greater Manchester Police in their attempts at combating crime. J. Holden's observation came the day after the chief constable, Michael Todd, confirmed the view that some

  • Move to fill holes in our dental care

    HEALTH chiefs in East Lancashire hope to tackle the massive problem of patients struggling to find a dentist after being given more control over cash. Government plans to devolve control over the £1.2billion NHS dental budget to primary care trusts over

  • Soccer: No seaside fun for unlucky Rams

    FLEETWOOD TOWN...2 RAMSBOTTOM UTD...1 THE Rams travelled for their fourth away game of the season on Tuesday night and after Saturday's indifferent display against Stone, manager Andy Grimshaw again rung the changes with Iain Dyson replacing Chris Clarke

  • Stage Whispers

    TODMORDEN AODS is looking for an energetic singing and dancing crew to perform in the lively rock 'n' roll musical Return To The Forbidden Planet scheduled for April 2004. Auditions will take place at 7.30 pm on Thursday and Friday, September 4/5,at the

  • Play in memory of star June

    THE Darwen Library Players will dedicate their forthcoming performance of The Odd Couple to one of its stars June Slater, 63, who died on July 27. June was due to appear in the production, having previously spent 30 years acting in, directing and publicising

  • Players' six of the best

    OSWALDTWISTLE Players are celebrating after hearing they have received six nominations for the North West regional awards. The prestigious award ceremony in September is held every year to celebrate the best in amateur dramatics that the region has to

  • Park's closure idea is brilliant

    WHAT a brilliant idea closing Blackburn's Witton Park at night. Further 'brownie points' could be achieved by demolishing the filthy toilet block at Preston Old Road. There are plenty of facilities by the running track and the 'Owd Stables' tea rooms.

  • Art has touched a raw nerve

    REGARDING Barnoldswick artist Geoffrey Whitehead's exhibition being 'censored' (LET, August 29), if you think of Picasso's 'Guernica' for example, it has always been a fact that insecure governments have always been very afraid of and have tried to suppress

  • Racism and patriotism - the difference

    IN his letter (August 25) Mr Cave challenged "anyone to define racism as distinct from nationalism or patriotism." That is easy, for patriotism because being proud of your country is quite possible without being racist. A few examples might help Mr Cave

  • Council will 'get tough' on parking

    BURNLEY Council is warning motorists it will get tough on illegal parking when it takes over responsibility for on-street parking from police traffic wardens next year. The hand-over, which has already happened in some parts of the country, is expected

  • We want Ribble Valley and Hyndburn

    TOWN Halls are on a collision course after Blackburn with Darwen councillors voted in favour of merging with neighbouring Hyndburn and Ribble Valley. Council leader Sir Bill Taylor told a meeting last night that the three boroughs must merge together

  • Cole's hot form down to hard work

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today hailed Andy Cole following the striker's explosive start to the new season. Cole shot to the top of the Premiership's goalscoring charts with another deadly brace against Chelsea at the weekend. The former England hit-man

  • Hoops of fun at tennis roadshow

    BUDDING Tim Henmans were given a chance to get some expert coaching when they joined in the fun at an inflatable tennis roadshow. Four Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) qualified coaches were at Asda, Burnley, to give tips on how to improve your game. Inflatable

  • BNP man delivers official quit notice

    TOWN Hall bosses in Burnley have received official confirmation BNP councillor Luke Smith has resigned as a councillor and are expected to announce the date of a by-election in the next week. The election, in Lanehead ward, is expected to be held on either

  • Girlfriend slapped for taking man home

    A MAN slapped his partner after she brought another man home in the early hours, a court was told. Burnley Magistrates Court heard how Melvin Robinson, 57, swore at Fiona Duffy before attacking her, leaving her with a bloody nose and a cut lip. Robinson

  • Attacker jailed for 'revenge' beating

    A MAN just released from jail after taking part in the Burnley riots launched a revenge attack after his cousin was injured, a court heard yesterday. Joseph Brogan, 20, had only just been released from a 21-month jail term and was on licence after his

  • Yellow lines set for go-ahead

    PLANNED parking restrictions for Barrowford, which have sparked controversy among residents, look set to be come into force. Proposals for double yellow lines at the junction of Pasture Lane and Appleby Drive attracted two letters of complaint to the

  • Mentally ill sex attacker detained in hospital

    A MENTALLY ill sex attacker who pounced twice on the same woman in one night has been detained in hospital. Burnley Crown Court heard how paranoid schizophrenic Mohsin Khan, 21, told the terrified victim she would have to make a pornographic movie with

  • Pudding contest thrown a lifeline

    ONE of the most important events in the world's sporting calendar has been saved and is coming home to Bury! Yes, a new venue has been found just in time for the annual World Black Pudding Throwing Championship. This year's tournament was threatened after

  • Inquest to open on transsexual

    AN INQUEST is due to open on Tuesday into the death of a transsexual from Radcliffe. Geoff Sheehan, 48, of Farringdon Drive, was found by a neighbour in a fume-filled car at the rear of his home on Tuesday, Aug 26. A hose led from the exhaust into the

  • On the track of facts from days gone by

    SNIPPETS of information about Colne past and present are being sought by staff at a building society. Staff at the Colne branch of the Skipton Building Society are hoping locals will give them interesting facts and figures about the area in return for

  • A reward for helping keep the roots strong

    FOR our latest Pride of East Lancashire Award we are searching for the area's amateur sporting legends. The Grass Roots Champion accolade, backed by Blackburn Rovers, is dedicated to highlighting the outstanding amateur performers who form the lifeblood

  • Cash plea for school revamps

    SCORES of parents will this week receive letters asking them to pay towards a £30million scheme to improve Catholic school buildings. Although much of the money will be provided by central government, Catholic schools have agreed to find 10 per cent,

  • 'I thought I'd die in gang attack horror'

    A TAXI driver has spoken of the moment he thought he was going to die as five thugs beat him unconscious. And a spokesman for East Lancashire taxi drivers today called for stiffer sentences for thugs who assault cabbies. Self-employed Bernard Tunney,

  • Card chain in multi-million takeover

    GREETINGS card shop chain Birthday's has been taken over. The Bury-based firm has been sold by existing shareholders -- 3i, PPMV and Permira -- in a multi-million pound deal to a retail consortium that includes entrepreneur Chris Gorman and the West Coast

  • Having their say on £150m town plan

    BURY business chiefs have been given their say on the massive £150 million proposals to transform the town's busy Mill Gate centre. And questions raised at the latest meeting of the Bury Economic Forum included whether the town needs more retail provision

  • CAMRA search

    UNIQUE pubs in East Lancashire are being encouraged to enter a competition which celebrates their design. CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, are running the competition to recognise pubs with imaginative and innovative design. Contact Tony Jerome at Camra

  • Accident unit is safe, says health secretary

    FAIRFIELD Hospital will not lose its accident and emergency department although changes to the way the unit operates cannot be ruled out. That was the mixed assurance from the Secretary of State for Health, Mr John Reid, in response to fears that trauma

  • BNP to make M65 sign row an election issue

    THE BNP has joined the fight to change the M65 Services sign to read 'Darwen' instead of 'Blackburn'. The party says it will focus on the wrangle as part of its election campaign in the town. Robin Evans, the party's councillor in Mill Hill, Blackburn

  • Nursery pride over glowing report

    CHILDREN and staff from a Darwen nursery are celebrating top marks from a June OFSTED report. Education and care standards were declared first-class at St Barnabas Nursery, on Watery Lane, which has 47 children aged from birth to school age. Nursery manager

  • Drink drive leads to ban and fine

    A WOMAN who crashed her car into railings early in the morning admitted to police that she had drunk seven or eight pints of lager, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that a subsequent breath test showed Sarah Victoria Whittaker, 25, to be

  • Globetrotter brings back Far East plaques

    TWO plaques donated by mayors in Russia and China will have pride of place at Rossendale Town Hall. Worsley ward councillor Geoffrey Atkinson brought them back after twinning visits to Engles, in Russia, and Yungang, in China, as gifts for the Mayor of

  • Writer tells of his blind faith

    A VISUALLY impaired former Rossendale Council employee has launched his own autobiography. The launch event of Richard Lees' book, entitled A Stinging Tale, is to be held at The Old Municipal Buildings, Somerset, tomorrow. The book explains the cause

  • Routine check found excise licence was for another car

    A PROFESSIONAL man who negotiates contracts worth millions and is also studying for a masters degree was before a court for fraudulent use of an excise licence. Peter Jonathan Brymer, 37, of Rockliffe Farm, Pennine Road, Britannia, Bacup -- who is also

  • Right solutions

    BURY-based Hands-on Computer Solutions is among the first newly accredited Sage Solution Centres in the UK. The programme ensures that such centres provide customers with expert advice on choosing the right business solutions for their needs. Nigel Billings

  • Man on bail after assault on ex-wife

    A 43-YEAR-OLD man took his ex-wife by the throat and banged her head against the wall after losing his temper, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that David Ainsworth was ranting and raving during the assault, calling his former wife a "slag

  • First name badges for friendly policing

    FIRST names of police officers are to be put on their uniforms in a bid to put them on a more informal footing with the public. The move was revealed after two months of discussions between bosses at Lancashire Constabulary and the county's Police Federation

  • Rovers star's wife to stay, thanks to Jack

    FOREIGN Secretary Jack Straw today told how he intervened to prevent Blackburn Rovers star Brett Emerton's wife being deported. But the Blackburn MP said he would do the same for any constituent -- even if they were married to a Burnley player! The Foreign

  • Work to do for Dale

    ROSSENDALE United will be without Chris Fitzsimmons for tonight's UniBond Division One home game against Workington. He was injured duriog tehir 4-2 win at Goole in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday, which set up a tie with last season's headline-makers

  • Rachel has Hope but no guarantees

    BURNLEY-born goalkeeper Rachel Brown has been warned she is not assured of a starting role for England at Turf Moor later this week. Brown, 23, is keeping her fingers crossed to play on her home ground as the nation's women take on Australia as part of

  • Haig confident new-look Hawks will fly

    BLACKBURN Hawks are sporting new 'plumage' and raising a glass to the continued generosity of a local brewery. For neighbours Daniel Thwaites have renewed their sponsorship for the coming ice hockey season and the skaters are sporting a new white strip

  • He learned a harsh lesson

    ON Friday, August 15, while he was at Ramsbottom Pool, our 11-year-old son had his wallet stolen. Two "bigger boys" were seen walking out with it, according to other children. It contained what was left of his holiday money and a couple of other items

  • Fight this flats plan

    IT seems that developers Richardson's Projects, having appealed against the planning department's quite proper rejection of their application to build three-storey flats on the last parking space in Hollins, have not only appealed but made a second application

  • Metrolink safety is paramount

    I SHOULD like to respond to letters (August 1) expressing concerns about safety on Metrolink. In particular we are concerned that reference has been made to the policing of the system. At this point we would like to assure our customers that their safety

  • Police cover at schools

    ELEVEN-year-olds starting at secondary school this week are being given "police protection". Operation Sayhem was launched in Bury yesterday (Mon Sept 1) and will run until September 12. The operation is aimed at reducing acts of violence and bullying

  • Youth hurt in run from fight

    A TEENAGER is believed to have run into the path of a car as he tried to flee a street fight. The 18-year-old from Radcliffe is in a "serious but stable" condition in Fairfield General Hospital where he is receiving treatment to head and chest injuries