THERE cannot be anyone who does not know the health risks attached to smoking. But, so the tobacco lobby argues, if people want to expose themselves to that risk it is their business and no-one elses. At the same time however, the medical profession has
Drive & Stroll, with RON FREETHY IF you want to combine shopping and strolling why not combine a trip to the Trafford Centre with a three-mile circular walk around Sale Water Park. At the Visitors' Centre there are a number of free leaflets indicating
The harsh realities of life in Pakistan inspired 15-year-old Umay Shah to start writing poetry. Now her work has won critical acclaim, writes JENNY SCOTT. . . STEREOTYPICAL teenagers have heads crammed full of soap-operas and bubblegum pop, scorning politics
OUR council wastes large amounts of money on schemes which do not benefit the public and are not practical. Maybe someone will enlighten me as to why and when the council applies for various grants, the money is 100 per cent earmarked for use in Blackburn
REGARDING the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's report which stated Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is to head a campaign which aims to give people more information relating to proposed plans for the Regional Assembly -- including, apparently 'input'
THE earthquake in Bam, Iran, has killed more than 20,000 people, leaving many thousands injured and destroying 80 per cent of the city. In the aftermath of this disaster children who survived are now in a desperate situation, traumatised, without shelter
STAN Ternent has vowed to battle on as Burnley boss next season - even without a contract. Ternent's current deal expires in the summer, but he has revealed he is willing to pledge his future to the club as long as the board back him to carry on. Chairman
STAN Ternent has vowed to battle on as Burnley boss next season - even without a contract. Ternent's current deal expires in the summer, but he has revealed he is willing to pledge his future to the club as long as the board back him to carry on. Chairman
A 26-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before Blackburn magistrates following a New Year's Eve incident in which a man was glassed in the face. Thomas Flynn, of Moss Fold Road, Darwen, was sent on bail to Preston Crown Court charged with wounding Ryan McKeefrey
A POPULAR arts centre has moved to bigger premises -- allowing the creation of a gallery to champion the work of local artists. The Valley Arts Centre has sold its Sudell Road premises in Darwen and moved to nearby two properties, numbers 19 and 21, separated
A DARWEN teenager who saw her equestrian career slip from her when she suffered a serious elbow injury is hoping to make it to the Paralympics by 2012. Cerebral palsy sufferer Felicity Helen Coulthard, 19, of Essex Street, was forced out of action for
RESIDENTS were last night warned that if they do not take a stand against proposals for two wind turbines "there will be 100 more in 12 months." David Goss, of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), made the prediction at a public meeting
A TERRIFIED Bacup teenager had a gun put between his eyes and was told his face would be blown off after he was kidnapped by two men. Burnley Crown Court heard how the 16-year-old ended up looking down the barrel of the weapon after being dragged into
THE freezing weather on New Year's Eve landed paramedics in a spot of difficulty when they were forced to call out the local mountain rescue team. Parts of Rossendale were covered in so much snow that vehicles were left stranded and abandoned on main
POLICE called to a New Year's Day disturbance were met with a tirade of abuse from a man outside an address in Railton Avenue, Blackburn. Blackburn magistrates heard that William Lee Thompson was on the street at 8.30 am because he had left the family
A PLAN to develop out-of-hours school clubs is to be discussed by councillors. The policy and review committee of Blackburn with Darwen Council will look at how a strategy to extend the use of schools is being taken forward. A report written for the committee
A BLACKBURN-born man is spearheading a new commission to inspect social care. David Behan, who was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours, still believes in grass roots services. And he safeguards the skills he learned as a social worker at homeless charity
FA CUP hero Paul Howarth revelled in Accrington Stanley's promotion from the UniBond Premier Division to the Nationwide Conference last season. But moving up football's pecking order takes on a double meaning for the likeable full-back - the last man
POLICE are continuing their hunt for a three-man gang after an armed robbery on a security van in Bury on New Year's Eve. A senior police officer said it was an appalling attack accompanied by unnecessary violence. The Securicor van had pulled up outside
GRAEME Souness has challenged Alan Mahon to prove he can still have a long-term future at Blackburn Rovers. Souness had convinced himself that Mahon was surplus to requirements at Ewood, hence his decision to loan him out to Ipswich Town earlier this
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has been thwarted in his attempts to land Leicester City midfielder Muzzy Izzet. City manager Micky Adams labelled Rovers' bid as 'derogatory' last night as he desperately tried to hang on to his star player. And the Foxes
POLICE are hunting a sex attacker who wished a young barmaid a happy new year before dragging her into an alley and subjecting her to a horrifying ordeal. The victim, 21, was walking home along Cleaver Street in Duke Bar, Burnley, after her New Year's
AN innovative project providing trailblazing support to young people across Pendle is hoping to expand after its official launch. Around 500 children have already been referred to the Wheels within Wheels project which provides recreational activities
AMID the torrent of news relayed by television and radio stations during the festive season, one segment in particular gave me more indigestion than the mountain of food and drink I downed. No it wasn't Princess Anne's bull terrier savaging the Queen's
A MOBILE library, helped by members of the WRVS, is on the road. The service is being run in Barnoldswick by librarian Linda Medley and is already proving very popular with residents. To join the scheme, which is particularly aimed at people who have
A DOG which was saved from being put down by a local charity after being found wandering on the moors has been reunited with its owners. Black and white border collie Bess was found near Belthorn before Christmas, and despite the best efforts of Steve
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9 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
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7 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
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6 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
A NEW video capturing the beauty of the Ribble Valley could help boost visitor numbers. 'Spellbound In and Around the Ribble Valley' features the most famous beauty spots and tourist attractions of the area. It includes scenes of the summit of Pendle
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. SUNDAY Horses Birthday Party Winter Appeal, "Only Foals and Horses" Sanctuary, Redshell Lane, off Haslingden Old Road, Oswaldtwistle, 1pm-4pm. Guided Walk meet Cowm Water-Ski
This week, with MANDY FINCH, manageress of the Red Lion pub, Whitebirk, Blackburn, who is Miss December on the JW Lees calendar. MEMORY: Getting a kitten for my birthday. It was a tabby called Tigger. HOME: The Old Farm House in Shaw. SCHOOL: Buckstones
with the Rev Kevin Logan, Vicar of Christ Church, Accrington I'M a jack of all musical instruments and master of none. From mouth organ to many-tiered church organ, I can stumble on a tune, though when I play the latter it sounds like the former. My least
REGARDING the experience of deaf woman Emma Stevens who was told she was not a suitable person to give a cat a home, I, too, take exception to her being told a deaf person would not be able to interpret the needs of the cat. As a Child of Deaf Adults
REGARDING your story about parking wardens being employed in Barnoldswick to stop able-bodied people using disabled spaces (LET, December 30). Yes, I agree it is a good idea to stop people from parking in disabled parking bays when they don't have a disabled
YOUR article (LET, December 24) about how Blackburn Cat Rescue refused to let a deaf woman adopt a cat was beyond belief. It is not just unenlightened, attitudes such as this cause oppression and shame in the deaf community -- and in deaf families. Yes
BUSINESSES in the Atherton and Leigh area are being warned not to fall for fraudsters claiming to offer data protection services. So many complaints about the con, which demands a fee for do-it-yourself services, have been made that the town's Trading
A TERRIFIED Bacup teenager had a gun put between his eyes and was told his face would be blown off after he was kidnapped by two men. Burnley Crown Court heard how the 16-year-old ended up looking down the barrel of the weapon after being dragged into
GYMS across East Lancashire were today put on alert after a fitness centre used by sporting celebrities was hit by a gang of locker raiders. The Next Generation Club, off Blackburn Road, Wheelton, has had eight lockers broken into on three separate occasions
A CAMPAIGNER desperate to save Padiham Pool has warned residents to "use it, or lose it." Carol Stinton, 62, who regular swims at the leisure centre and is leading the campaign to keep it open, said: "It is easy for people to sign their name on a petition
VISITORS to a park in Colne will see more colour than usual this spring after schoolchildren helped increase the amount of bulbs planted. Sixty pupils from Sacred Heart Primary School, in Red Lane, helped Pendle Council Park Rangers Service and the Friends
CAMPAIGNERS hoping to restore a rail link between East Lancashire and Yorkshire have reacted angrily to Pendle Council's leader branding their crusade "a pipe dream". Councillor Alan Davies made his remarks at a council meeting after being asked by Coun
STEVEN Paul Robinson threatened to slit his mother's throat during a New Year's Day fracas, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard Robinson believed his mother and sister were conspiring with his girlfriend who was doing something behind his back
THE finishing touches to Hyndburn's Quality bus route will be put in place within the next few months, county hall officials have confirmed. The service, which runs along the well-established Hyndburn Circular route, taking in Blackburn, Oswaldtwistle
A VICAR stepped in to save the dream wedding of a squaddie after his plans were almost scuppered by red tape. Tristan Clements, 24, was just days away from tying the knot to sweetheart Lian Dixon, who is half German, at his base in Guttersloh, Germany
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4 BLACKBURN: 10am-1pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road; 10.30am-4.30pm: Superdrug Pharmacy, 5 Stonybutts; noon-1pm: Cohens Chemist, 174 Shear Brow. DARWEN: noon-1pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 11 Church Street. ACCRINGTON: 11am-1pm: Lloyds Pharmacy
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 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;
MONDAY, JANUARY 5 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
THE mystery of a blood-stained jacket found at the Tickled Trout Hotel in Samlesbury has been solved. The coat, found among some bins at the back of the Preston New Road hotel on Monday, was covered in a 'significant' amount of blood across the shoulders
WHAT is claimed to be the world's smallest hearing aid is to be tested in the UK. Measuring just 2.5cm long and 0.5cm wide the ReSoundAir (www.gnresound.com) device is also extremely light. The manufacturers hope it will help end the stigma associated
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has been thwarted in his attempts to land Leicester City midfielder Muzzy Izzet. City manager Micky Adams labelled Rovers' bid as 'derogatory' last night as he desperately tried to hang on to his star player. And the Foxes
YOUNGSTERS in East Lancashire are being urged to do the business - by coming up with entrepreneurial ideas. A new advertising campaign has been launched through the East Lancashire Business Link aimed at 14- to 24-year-olds. Adverts on Blackburn buses
EAST Lancashire residents left cold and in the dark for days following countywide electricity problems could be entitled to compensation. Hundreds of homes in the area were left without power on New Year's Eve after high winds brought down power lines
A DARWEN "freedom" campaigner has called for local people to be given a greater say on how money is spent in the town. Roy Davies hit out after a council-funded report revealed that more money was spent per head of population in Blackburn's wards than
ONE of the nation's most controversial issues is to be debated with experts and residents in Rossendale next week. A member of the local Primary Care Trust will speak in favour of fluoridation, while Jane Jones, campaign director of the Pure Water Association
COUNCIL bosses today reassured the family of a tragic taxi driver that the road where he died had been treated for icy conditions. The grieving family of Munawar Hussain, 44, who died after his taxi skidded and smashed into a wall, in Burnley Road Loveclough
A COUPLE who lost their baby daughter when she was born prematurely last year are to host a fund-raiser for the hospital where she was born. Sara and Jason Ashton, of Cornelian Street, Roe Lee, Blackburn, are hoping to host a Rock and Roll Cabaret on
EAST Lancashire youngsters could be earning more cash in the New Year after unions put pressure on the Government to extend the minimum wage. The Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers is spearheading the campaign to get a minimum wage for 16-
A TEENAGER'S gold chain was ripped from his neck as a gang of six youths kicked and punched him in a street mugging. The 17-year-old boy, who has not been named, was taken to Blackburn Infirmary and given treatment for minor cuts and bruises. Police said
A FILM company are looking for locations fit for the silver screen for their latest production. Standish Films, based in Wigan, is set to start shooting a television film early this year, but are short of one thing -- locations. The project needs certain
TWO former company directors have been called to a public inquiry after passengers were left stranded when their buses stopped running. The government's Traffic Commissioner is set to hold the inquiry in Preston next week after Blackburn Transport Ltd
LANDLORDS and health officials across East Lancashire have welcomed new calls to protect customers from passive smoking -- but warned that implementing changes could be difficult. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has complained that only a "tiny" proportion
GYMS across East Lancashire were today put on alert after a fitness centre used by sporting celebrities was hit by a gang of locker raiders. The Next Generation Club, off Blackburn Road, Wheelton, has had eight lockers broken into on three separate occasions
