IN just a few years it's fair to say fixing yourself up with an NHS dentist has become almost as difficult as finding the proverbial hen's teeth. Many existing dentists have retired and not been replaced and plenty of others have told their patients that
BRIAN Aldred, chief executive of the Lancashire Police Authority, tells us that a recent survey revealed that a majority of council tax payers would be prepared to pay extra "to boost police services" (I presume that's jargon-speak for "more police").
DANCE group leaders say they shouldn't be penalised because of damage in the bar where they held their presentation. Lisa Morris - who helps run Tyldesley based L&L Superstars which caters for five to 16 year-olds - was upset when management at Paddy's
A MAN threatened staff at a shop with a seven inch kitchen knife before making off with cash. The raider burst into Chesters Food and Wine, Walshaw Road, Bury, at 7pm on Saturday 11th, wielding the knife. The thief told staff to open the till before he
BURY'S dentists are continuing to bring a smile to the face of local people by riding out the current dental crisis. As patients in other parts of Greater Manchester are being turned away from surgeries, dentists in Bury are still taking on NHS patients
The Martin Dobson column IT COULD never be said that Bamber Bridge FC, lying snugly alongside the railway line on the outskirts of the town, could ever be compared with the likes of the Maracana in Brazil or the Bernabeu in Spain. But on a cold, depressing
MORE than 70,000 new NHS places are to be created at dentists across East Lancashire in a bid to solve the area's dental crisis. The increase was revealed as health bosses in Blackburn with Darwen announced plans to provide 27,000 of the places by the
FATHER-of-four Orison Richard Lever was banned from driving for three years by Bury magistrates after he admitted driving with more than twice the legal level of alcohol in his system. Lever (46), of Foxglove Drive, Bury, who had a previous conviction
ANY manager whose team had leaked in four goals by half-time would look to his bench in an effort to try and stem the tide. That is just what the boss of struggling Leigh RMI did when he found his side in that situation against Accrington Stanley on Saturday
BLACKBURN Rovers are ready to listen to offers for Spanish winger Javier De Pedro. As I understand it, the former Real Sociedad wide-man does not figure in Mark Hughes' long-term plans for the club and Rovers will attempt to cut their losses by off-loading
We apologise to customers and correspondents who may have been trying to contact the Bury Times on Monday during an eight-hour power and phones blackout. The power supply has now been restored.
GARY Bowyer has warned his players 'this is where the real stuff starts' as Blackburn Rovers prepare to kick-off their FA Youth Cup campaign at the Reebok Stadium tonight. Rovers' Under 18s have stormed to the top of their Academy league during a magnificent
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes felt Alan Wiley got it wrong when he red-carded David Thompson during the closing stages of Saturday's 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park. Thompson became the fifth Rovers player to be sent off this season when he was dismissed
THE future of an old people's home in Burnley which is earmarked to become a health centre is set to be decided tomorrow. Lanehead House, in Burnley Road, Briercliffe, is due for closure with the building being demolished to make way for a new health
FURIOUS Reedley residents have to start their campaign against a mobile phone mast from scratch despite defeating similar plans just six weeks ago. People living near Belvedere and Caldervale Sports Club in Holden Road have accused mobile phone giant
PRESTWICH Ken Yu Kai Karate club, who train at St Hildas Hall, impressed in the recent National Championships. Sam Boyle won bronze in the individual Kata (a series of attacks and defence against an imaginary opponent) during the championships held at
A MAN insulted a police officer and then spat in her face, a court heard. Burnley magistrates were told how Shakeel Sadiq, 20, had called the victim a "white bitch" before the unprovoked attack on her. Sadiq, of Newbold Street, Nelson, admitted racially
A CROOKED businessman who pocketed almost £700,000 in a "clever" data protection con could have saved himself from both jail and financial ruin if he had run the operation above board, a court was told. Convicted conman Mohammed Khatana, 43, now faces
DEBT-RIDDEN holiday company MyTravel Plc today predicted it will return to operating profit by 2006 after reducing pretax losses. MyTravel, which has call centres in Accrington and Helmshore, posted a £190.3million pretax loss in the 13 months to October
A HYNDBURN Council officer who was sacked for looking at sexually explicit websites at work has lost his claim for unfair dismissal. Kenneth Carroll, the authority's former health and safety and emergency planning officer, was sacked in May after he was
A DISPUTE over a controversial bus shelter in Oswaldtwistle which was removed because of repeated attacks on it by vandals is to be discussed at a public meeting. There was an outcry from bus-users when the shelter in Trinity Street, near Rowen Avenue
A 45 YEAR-old man found hanging by his pregnant partner was due to lose his job on Christmas Eve, an inquest has heard. But the hearing was told that despite that, and recent bank loans of £8,000, Steven Nuttall had given no indication of his intentions
COUNCIL leader Peter Britcliffe has vowed to do everything in his power to save Hyndburn's threatened neighbourhood wardens. The service is due to be scrapped after government cash used to fund the project was discontinued. Although Coun Britcliffe said
A SCHOOL field in East Lancashire could become the first in the county to have its own wind turbine. But protesters say the 45ft high turbine would be an eyesore that could never produce enough energy to justify its visual impact. County Hall bosses plan
BURNLEY defender Mo Camara has revealed he is in talks over a new contract. The 29-year-old has been a revelation in his second campaign with the Clarets, since arriving on a free transfer from Wolves 18-months ago. And Camara, whose present deal runs
YOUTH guru Vince Overson will get an insight into Burnley's current standing when they face Academy side Norwich City at Turf Moor tonight (7pm). Overson has been installed as the new head of youth development to help restore the Clarets past reputation
FORMER England skipper Nasser Hussain feels that Lancashire paceman James Anderson has got a straight fight on his hands to win a place in England's line-up. The Burnley-born bowler is battling to win a slot in England's team for the first Test against
WATER detectives are on the case to sniff out pollution problems in the borough's streams and bathing waters. United Utilities is organising a region-wide survey to tackle the problem of wrong drainage connections which lead to environmental pollution
BURNLEY defender Mo Camara has revealed he is in talks over a new contract. The 29-year-old has been a revelation in his second campaign with the Clarets, since arriving on a free transfer from Wolves 18-months ago. And Camara, whose present deal runs
ELTON Vale's relentless pursuit of the Division One title continued at the weekend in the BSF Over 35s League. Another great 2-1 away win at new team Littleborough saw them finish the year five points clear at the top and in pole position to take the
CONGLETON 0, RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 2: THE Rams' travels yielded three crucial points on Saturday as managerless Congleton were comprehensively outplayed at Booth Street. The victory moved the Rams into the top four and with an intriguing encounter at league
A COUPLE conned a hotel receptionist before stealing a laptop computer. They walked into the Astley Bank Hotel, off Bolton Road, Darwen, at 2.50pm on Monday and while the man inquired about accommodation, the woman searched nearby rooms and stole a Hewlett
MEMBERS who saved their 50-year-old Darwen club from closure last year can finally to plan for the future after becoming the official owners. Previous owners ICI Acrylics, now known as Lucite International, offered to hand over the deeds free of charge
ANGRY business leaders today hit out Rossendale Council chiefs for debating the future of the heart of Rawtenstall Town Centre behind closed doors. Councillors are set to discuss the best way forward for Rawtenstall's Valley Centre in private at tonight's
SPECIALLY-TRAINED police officers are today due to interview a 13-year-old schoolboy who was allegedly assaulted in class by a fellow pupil. And the boy's headteacher, John Gosling, of Witton Park Business and Enterprise College, Buncer Lane, Blackburn
A MAGICAL interpretation of the classic pantomime Sleeping Beauty is set to enchant audiences in Blackburn over the festive season. Audiences young and old alike are invited to attend the Stageworks Worldwide Production version of the romantic fairy tale
A BLACKBURN man who introduced security measures at his home in a bid to thwart burglars has been raided again. Reg Nicholls lost thousands of pounds worth of property when his house in Accrington Road was burgled in January. And believes he was deliberately
MORE than 70,000 new NHS places are to be created at dentists across East Lancashire in a bid to solve the area's dental crisis. The increase was revealed as health bosses in Blackburn with Darwen announced plans to provide 27,000 of the places by the
Living in Fear it was dark My Life was wasted and devasted Missing the road above me I went down underground Too Blind to see nothing was clear Through hussle and bussle bumps and grazes I couldn't heal Crowds of scieties around me imprisoned by human
THREE special centres dedicated to the care of children are one step closer to becoming a reality in Bury. The centres, to be based in the Bury East, Redvales and Besses wards, will integrate services for children and their parents or carers by providing
PUBS and clubs could be forced to install metal detectors or frisk customers under Home Secretary David Blunkett's latest plans to curb violent crime using knives. Mr Blunkett has outlined proposals to outlaw the selling of knives to under-18s, as widely
BLACKBURN "Sleeping Beauty," King George's Hall, Northgate. Until January 9. "Jack and the Beanstalk," Thwaites Theatre, Ewood. Until December 20. Christmas Gifts and Cards, Samlesbury Hall, 11am-4.30pm. Until December 19. Cyber Drop-In, 9.30am-11.30am
SO, here we go again. More artists' impressions of more "regeneration" for Blackburn town centre, and produced by the same people who have presided over the shambles that is Church Street. Let us hope that the council will be as good as its word and consult
FOLLOWING your front page article (LET, December 10) 'Angry Angels' you asked should nurses receive a Christmas bonus? The answer is a definite yes! But, not really a bonus, more like fair pay. What other workers would be expected to work Christmas day
THE outrage felt at the editorial comment (LET, December 4) encouraging Huncoat to accept the plans for a huge waste management centre was the talk of the community. To expect Huncoaters to be 'won over!' simply because the government has targets and
BURY Hospice has been given a festive boost thanks to its friends in Brandlesholme. A Christmas Fair, including the usual array of Yuletide raffles, tombolas and refreshments, raised an impressive £1,600 towards the running costs of the hospice in Dumers
WHEN it comes to running a pub, two Bury licensees know exactly what they are doing and have certificates to prove it. For Dawn Cottam, of the Sundial Hotel, and Stuart Steedman of the Two Tubs, have graduated under an innovative course developed by the
A COUNCIL refuse truck had to be towed out of a ditch in Tottington. The truck was making its rounds in the village on Friday morning when it became unsteady on some soft ground in Sunny Bower Street. Bury Council was alerted to the problem and sent another
THE Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, is to lead a peace pilgrimage to the Holy Land just before next Christmas. The Bishop said the time was right for Christians to return to the troubled Middle East and to pray with Christians in the
THREE special centres dedicated to the care of children are one step closer to becoming a reality in Bury. The centres, to be based in the Bury East, Redvales and Besses wards, will integrate services for children and their parents or carers by providing
A PROJECT to regenerate formal gardens in Bacup has scooped a £25,000 windfall -- although residents are being urged to help generate an extra £8,000 to complete the work. Stubbylee Park Formal Gardens is to undergo a facelift thanks to the cash injection
MARK Hughes today insisted Morten Gamst Pedersen still has a future with Blackburn Rovers. The Norwegian international winger has only started one game under Hughes during his three months in the Ewood hot-seat. But Hughes has told the 23-year-old to
the player we need ROBBIE Savage. You either love him or hate him. And right now, I'd love to see him wearing the blue and white strip of Blackburn Rovers. Reports suggest Savage will become the latest addition to the growing Welsh 'taffia' at Ewood Park
PLANS to convert a house into an Islamic bookshop will be considered by councillors later this week. The mid-terrace house at 71 Brougham Street, Burnley, was damaged in a traffic accident some time ago and has been empty ever since. But the applicant
A 70-year-old man who died as a result of asbestosis had spent 11 years of his working life exposed to the killer filaments, an inquest heard. The hearing was told that Dennis George Parker had worked for the National Coal Board at Altham and the Central
STUDENTS from Burnley's innovative police academy have passed out at an awards ceremony to mark the end of their training. The event, at Towneley Hall, marked the end of a 38-week training programme, during which the cadets have learnt all about the police
AN ELDERLY couple had a lucky escape as their car plummeted down a steep slope after veering off the road in Cliviger. They were able to walk free from the crash with only minor injuries as saplings stopped the car's descent. The accident happened at
A BRAVE ten-year-old Padiham girl with cerebral palsy who lived life to the full died suddenly after being struck down with septicaemia, an inquest heard. Chloe Alice Evans, of Malvern Avenue, died at Burnley General Hospital after falling ill. She had
BURNLEY needs a new college fit for the 21st century, principal John Smith has claimed. The head of Burnley College told guests at the higher education centre's annual awards night that the current Ormerod Road building was "outdated and inadequate".
HUNDREDS of alternative music fans are expected to descend on Burnley's Interact Park on Saturday in a musical first for the town. The first Annual Dropout event will bring together DJs, skaters, breakdancers, BMXers, graffiti artists and bands all under
A NEW baby suffered serious injuries when his angry father allegedly lost his temper and shook him violently like a rag doll, a jury was told. Burnley Crown Court heard how the six week-old boy, described by the defendant as a "grizzling" infant, had
THE grieving sister of a Burnley ,man who died after he collapsed when driving to hospital today paid tribute her 'kind-hearted' brother. Jonathan Brindle, 49, died suddenly after complaining he was unwell. His sister, Margaret Carroll, 57, of Windsor
A 32-YEAR-OLD Accrington man returned from visiting relatives in London to find his wife had locked him out of their home. Blackburn magistrates heard police were called when a full scale domestic dispute erupted between the couple. And Peter King, defending
HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope rebelled against the government for only the second time in his 12-year Parliamentary career last night over "living wills". He was one of 34 Labour back benchers who defied party Whips over plans to allow people to prevent efforts
TWO MEN armed with metal bars burst into a supermarket and threatened staff before emptying a safe. They smashed through the main doors of the store in Bury New Road, Whitefield, and then grabbed hold of a member of staff. She was taken into an office
A BLACKBURN mother who pens Christmas carols in her spare time has had her songs performed in the town's cathedral. Carole Scadding, 49, began writing carols in the summer and passed on some of her creative words to her friend, Paul Adnitt, headteacher
A LANDFILL site which will take 10,000 tonnes of hazardous waste a year has been approved, despite concerns about its impact on neighbours' health. The facility, at Castle Cement's Lanehead Quarry, near Clitheroe, will dispose of 175,000 cubic metres
UNION bosses at BAE Systems today said hundreds of jobs had been safeguarded after a contract to supply 235 new Eurofighter combat jets was signed. Representatives of the four nation Eurofighter consortium, which includes the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain
FRANK Sinclair has led the dressing room calls for Robbie Blake to stay with Burnley. Clarets skipper Blake made a mockery of Wigan's £700,000 valuation with another two-goal salvo to win Saturday's derby clash with Preston North End. Question marks still
BURNLEY are set for a £150,000 windfall from their FA Cup clash with Liverpool. Sky Sports have confirmed they will screen the third round Turf Moor showdown live on Friday, January 7, kick-off 7.45pm. The news will come as a welcome boost to Clarets
COLNE earned themselves a place in the last 32 of the Vase with some quality football, determination and a magnificent goalkeeping performance by man of the tie Ross Baxter. The game, reminiscent of the fighting spirit shown in last year's run to the
SHOPPERS across Bury are being warned not to allow thieves easy pickings of their precious Christmas purchases. The Government has issued a warning to all motorists to keep their cars locked and parked in safe, well-lit areas with their belongings out
BLACKBURN Rovers are ready to listen to offers for Spanish winger Javier De Pedro. As I understand it, the former Real Sociedad wide-man does not figure in Mark Hughes' long-term plans for the club and Rovers will attempt to cut their losses by off-loading
A DILAPIDATED sixth form block at a Rossendale school has moved a step closer to being replaced. Haslingden High School was yesterday given planning permission to knock down the old block and replace it with a sixth form building and car park. Councillors
DUNCAN Ruddick has been selected to take over as leader of Rossendale Borough Council by the Conservative Group. The Worsley ward councillor was selected unanimously by the group after Councillor Peter Steen stepped down. The appointment is set be ratified
A MAN linked to a disturbance where a large mob surrounded a vehicle and the car was attacked, has been given seven months custody. Men were armed with bricks, slabs of concrete and other weapons, including a sword, as windows were smashed and attempts
POLICE today urged householders not to make burglars' lives easy after three raids in one day through unlocked doors in Blackburn. A burglar got away with a £1,000 haul after getting into a house in Abraham Street, Infirmary, through an unlocked back
EAST Lancashire has been going robo-mad this Christmas - with toy shops struggling to cope with the rush for the number one toy. Robosapien is the all-grunting, all-dancing biomechanical pal every kid wants. The robot, designed by a former NASA robotics
LABOUR leaders have successfully pushed through their policy plans for the next 12 months -- but only after winning support from five independent councillors. But they have come under fire from rivals for making attaining top marks in a Government assessment
REJUVENATED Ian Craney believes he can go from strength to strength after rediscovering his scoring touch. The Accrington Stanley midfielder struck twice in the Reds' 6-0 win over Leigh RMI - their biggest success in the Conference to date. And Craney
JIMMY Greaves wasn't wrong when he described football as "a funny old game". How I'd love to be writing about a six-goal thriller at Hilton Park and an absolutely flawless Accrington Stanley display. But, in truth, the Reds tore struggling Leigh RMI to
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman believes hitting Leigh RMI for six has helped to restore his side's self belief. The Reds' confidence has been knocked after a mixed bag of results in recent weeks. A 5-0 home thrashing of Northwich Victoria was
I am writing in response to the article 'The 'unnoticed' have a tale too' by Saimina Virmani. (October 2004) As a solicitor I have noticed the increase in divorce applications from the Asian community. The number of women in particular, petitioning for
