AT sixteen I was seduced (wait for it) by Communism. I thought that was the answer, everybody to be the same. Of course, as I got older I came to understand that a 'grand levelling' doesn't work. But I have the feeling that the objective at present is
SHOCKED school pupils have issued an adoption plea - because their pet snails are about to have 50 children! Giant African snails Jackie Chan and Fudge have been living in a tank at Sacred Heart Primary School, Blackburn, since February. But the rampant
A YOUNG man pulls the communication cord and strands a group of passengers at an isolated Cornish railway station. Despite the old station master's weird stories of a ghost train, they have no option but to stay overnight in the waiting room. That's the
READING the paragraph 'grant puzzle' in Monday's LET, I feel Blackburn with Darwen Council's lottery windfall could be used to buy a couple of sculptures. I would suggest the subject be white elephants, to be placed at each end of Church Street. G WHEATMAN
NON is the word that the French use when objecting to a market site. The site in question that they discarded was the one in Church Street, Blackburn, who can blame them. When one blocks off a street the artery is cut and the street dies. The French don't
A 51-YEAR-OLD nurse from Nelson has been charged with murdering three elderly patients. Ann Grigg-Booth, who lives in Henry Street, was first arrested in March last year by police investigating the death of a 96-year-old woman at Airedale General Hospital
A TEENAGER stabbed her ex-boyfriend to death after the married father-of-two subjected her to a spate of violent attacks, a court was told. Kelly Hyslop had resorted to cutting herself because of her abusive relationship with Mohammed Nadeem, which began
LEIGH RMI's skipper is at a loss to explain his side's costly extra-time giveaways writes David Magilton Gareth Stoker was left shaking his head after Leigh equalised three times against Hereford on Saturday, only to be denied by an injury time goal.
THE first member of the British armed forces to face a murder charge over post war operations in Iraq was remanded on bail until October 25 when he made brief first appearance at the Old Bailey. Trooper Kevin Williams, from Nelson, is accused of killing
IT is about time something was done about pavement parking. Too many people think they are immune to the laws we are governed by and too many people with empty driveways and empty garages continue to use the pavements on which to park their cars. Let's
COUNCILLOR Tim Pickstone (Liberal Democrat) represents the people of Bury as a non-executive director of the Pennine Acute NHS Trust. So what is his view on the proposed closure of the special care baby unit and the changes to children's and maternity
ONE of Blackburn's oldest pubs, the Country Hotel in Darwen Street, was pulled down to pave the way for improvements to the town centre cathedral grounds. Demolition of the pub began after a £140,000 plan to improve the landscape surrounding the cathedral
THE award winning Robert Brothers Famous Circus is to visit Leigh. The circus has been touring Great Britain for the past 60 years and will be coming to Lately Common, Glazebury. For eight years it also presented the Easter Circus and the Circus World
A MOTHER is refusing to allow her daughter go to school because education bosses want her to sign a good behaviour agreement. Staff at Moorhead High School, Queens Road West, Accrington, want 15-year-old Stacey Doyle back behind her desk studying for
A TEENAGER stabbed her ex-boyfriend to death after the married father-of-two subjected her to a spate of violent attacks, a court was told. Kelly Hyslop had resorted to cutting herself because of her abusive relationship with Mohammed Nadeem, which began
THE ten-hour school day proposed by government ministers was criticised last night by a headteacher in Clitheroe. Glynne Ward told parents that Ribblesdale High School Technology College would never sign up to the proposals and said teachers were expected
CRICKET ace Glen Chapple was full of cheer as he raised a glass to leading northern brewer Daniel Thwaites. The Lancashire all-rounder, from Earby, picked up a cheque for £8,000, the proceeds from a major sporting dinner sponsored by Thwaites and held
PADIHAM manager Steve Wilkes is on the hunt for a sharp shooter after losing leading scorer Daniel Stubberfield to neighbours Ramsbottom United. The 21-year-old has earned rave reviews after helping to fire the Storks to the top of the North West Counties
KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC 2 - 1 CHORLEY CHORLEY'S desperate plight worsened last night when much-improved Kidsgrove overturned a half-time deficit to consign the Magpies to a seventh straight league defeat. Not for the first time this season, Chorley created
ROSSENDALE chairman Declan Callan has insisted that Ashley Hoskin did resign as manager. The Dark Lane chief spoke out after Hoskin claimed he was pushed out of the door. But Callan said there were a number of factors that resulted in a parting of the
RAMSBOTTOM UTD 1 SUPERSUB: Lee Wilkinson had a big influence on Bacup's FA Vase comeback JARROW RB 5 NELSON 1 Nelson are hammered NELSON'S hopes of a run in the cup were dashed in desperate style in the north east. Northern League outfit Jarrow were made
A 15-YEAR-0LD boy has been given a two-year ban from entering educational premises after he was convicted of assaulting a male teacher at a Bury school. Aron Cooper, of East Street, Bury, has been made subject to a Supervision Order and Anti Social Behaviour
A DARWEN councillor says plans to introduce two new dentists to the borough will barely improve the shortage crisis. Coun Roy Davies, who lives in and represents the deprived Sudell ward, said plans by Primary Care Trust officials in East Lancashire to
THIS is the first glimpse of the city-style apartments planned for Blackburn after a pub supremo decided to pull down several venues. The Castle, C'est La Vie and Never Never Land, all in Market Street Lane, and Mr G's in Fleming Square, would make way
A COUNCIL leader has ordered a review after it was revealed that members were allowed to spend £180-a-night on hotels while attending London conferences. Coun Kate Hollern said she believed that some of the events councillors and senior officers are attending
A STALLHOLDER has followed in the footsteps of three generations of her family by clocking up 50 years on Blackburn Market. But Joan Jackson is desperately searching for a volunteer to continue the family business when she decides to hang up her overalls
A JURY has heard details on Tuesday of the tragic death of fireman Paul Metcalf, who died trying to rescue a teenager from a Holcombe Brook lodge. At the start of a three-week trial Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority pleaded not guilty
THE days when you had to hunt around in England for clean, modern, reasonably-priced hotel rooms have long gone. In the past few years chains have opened new places throughout the country to meet the needs of people travelling on business or for pleasure
IT'S that time of year again, when the NHS is gearing up for the annual flu vaccination campaign. Flu isn't just like a bad cold. In Britain each year, three to four thousand elderly people and those with poor health, die as a result of flu, mostly in
FORMULA One figure Mark Gallagher will be one of the special guests at the first Alchemy Club Annual Awards Dinner in Blackburn. The business club is for people in Lancashire aged between 14 and 25. The dinner at King George's Hall marks the first anniversary
PLANS for a new gypsy caravan site have been thrown out by councillors who want empty houses in their borough filled first. Local businesses had objected to the proposed eight caravan site on land off Appleby Street and Milton Street in the Audley ward
THE attention of police carrying out surveillance for kerb-crawlers in Blackburn's red light district was drawn to a car being driven by a 58-year-old man. Blackburn magistrates heard that officers saw John Louis William O'Connor slow down dramatically
A £50,000 reward is being offered after a bank manager and his family who live in Leigh were kidnapped by a gang who then robbed the branch. The men took the family from their home in Leigh on Tuesday, making them drive to a mystery location at gunpoint
PUBLIC safety at Bury Interchange is to be stepped up. For transport chiefs have approved a six-month trial of a "Rapid Response" mobile security unit. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive has unveiled plans for a two-person mobile unit to
BRAD FRIEDEL: Didn't have much to do on the night other than pick the ball out of his net. 6 LUCAS NEILL: Got forward well in the first half and did a reasonable job defensively. 7 MICHAEL GRAY: Didn't try to over-complicate things and tidied up one or
A POLICE chief today warned that gang violence will not be tolerated in East Lancashire - and appealed to the public to help stamp it out. Detective Inspector Steve Chard said people would not be allowed to take the law into their own hands and vowed
I FULLY acknowledge that "Disgusted" (Letters, September 10) has some strong opinions on the closure of Warthfield and the re-location of the remaining residents, and that these opinions are sincerely held. I trust he/she can acknowledge that my views
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has given his backing to a new Home Office project which will tackle the issue of fraudsters using the names and details of dead people for financial gain. The Home Office will work with CIFAS, a fraud prevention service and
A DOORMAN'S nose was smashed and his colleague was also struck after they went to stop trouble at an 18th birthday party. Burnley Magistrates Court heard the victim had to have surgery to straighten his nose after "all hell broke loose" at Turf Moor,
HUNDREDS of Blackburn Rovers supporters who had travelled to Sweden were left in tears as they were dumped out of the UEFA Cup. The 1,000 fans who made the trip were distraught after watching the team beaten by part-timers Trelleborgs. Air stewards on
A WHITEFIELD bank manager kidnapped and held hostage with his wife and two daughters has spoken of his family's nightmare ordeal. A quiet night at home turned to terror when well-dressed masked raiders abducted them at gunpoint. Mr Jonathan Diggle, his
BURNLEY (probable) (4-1-4-1) COYNE DUFFY CAMARA MCGREAL SINCLAIR GRANT CHAPLOW HYDE BRANCH MOORE BLAKE CARDIFF (probable) (4-5-1) WARNER WILLIAMS GABBIDON VIDMAR BARKER MCANUFF KAVANAGH BOLAND PARRY THORNE LEE STOP PRESS Richard Duffy, on loan from Portsmouth
COLNE were held to a 1-1 draw at Atherton Collieries last night. Gavin Cooper put the Reds in front as early as the third minute, but his goal was cancelled out by Jones on 36 minutes. Meanwhile, Great Harwood were beaten 3-0 at home to Skelmersdale United
SHAKERS' boss Graham Barrow couldn't hide his frustration and disappointment after Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Oxford United. For the umpteenth time this season the Bury manager had to sit and watch his side hand over three points to opponents they looked
SPORT sessions for the community will be up and running at Woodhey High after the school scored a half-million pound lottery success. The Ramsbottom school has been awarded £562,400 by the Big Lottery Fund to create a modern multi-use games area for pupils
NEWCASTLE B'FIELD SAINTS...1 RAMSBOTTOM UNITED...1 FA Vase Second Qualifying Round A COMBINATION of determination and good fortune ensured the Rams gained a second bite at the cherry, after a hard fought 120 minutes of football could not divide the two
POLICE have been going into mosques to give presentations about the force in a bid to win the trust of the Asian community and find new recruits. Officers have also been giving talks in schools and community centres used by people from ethnic minorities
ACCRINGTON Stanley's latest signing Mike Flynn believes he has made the right move, at the right time. The central defender was snapped up on a free transfer from Coca Cola League One side Blackpool at the end of last week after a prolonged chase. And
SURELY I can't be the only Bury resident to suffer from the noise pollution emanating from the Fernhill waste site (Birch Street, near Wickes), which echoes around the Burrs, Lower Woodhill, Bury Ground valley from dawn to dusk, every day. There is incessant
A 15-YEAR-0LD boy has been given a two-year ban from entering educational premises after he was convicted of assaulting a male teacher at a Bury school. Aron Cooper, of East Street, Bury, has been made subject to a Supervision Order and Anti Social Behaviour
DOCTORS across East Lancashire will begin administering the new five-in-one jab this week - and health bosses have insisted it is "safe, proven and effective." It was announced last month that the diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and Hib injections
A CRUISE boat carrying passengers from East Lancashire has crashed into an oil tanker which crossed its path near Gibraltar. The Van Gogh cruise liner had already visited Portugal and Spain and was due to revisit the two countries again after a short
A FORMER Blackburn police inspector has died in Sydney, Australia, aged 93. Cyril Entwistle served in Blackburn police from 1934 to 1965, at a time when police also had responsibility for dealing with fire and ambulance calls. During his time with the
THE ear nose and throat out-patient department at Blackburn Royal Infirmary has received a letter from the Prime Minister after achieving the Charter Mark award for the third time in succession. The Charter Mark Standard is awarded for excellence in customer
CLITHEROE'S Trinity Methodist Drama Group presents The Curious Savage, by John Patrick, from Thursday, October 14 to Saturday, October 16 at the church hall on Parson Lane, Clitheroe. For tickets (costing £4.50 adults, £4 concessions) call (01200) 425186
ILLICIT kisses form the crux of the action in A Night On The Tiles - the Oswaldtwistle Players' show that runs at the town's civic theatre between October 20 and 23. And, in their latest rehearsals, it's not just the lines that need to be practised -
nRIBCHESTER Amateur Theatrical Society supplied the models for a fundraising fashion show at the village's parochial hall, held earlier this month. A total of £570 was raised for the Faith And Heritage Appeal. nBLACKBURN Drama Club presents Playhouse
I WAS outraged over the three-year ban from politics on Luke Smith and I feel that somebody should put the record straight on what is possibly a miscarriage of justice. The role by the Standards Board is to ensure that all elected politicians, while in
A FORMER Labour club steward accused of false accounting has appeared at Liverpool Crown Court. John Orange, of Heather Grove, Leigh, pleaded not guilty on Monday to falsifying an income and expenses sheet on October 18 last year. Orange, aged 45, who
I'M very distressed about this so-called "victory" for presenting nudity in our town. I truly believe that this is far from being a victory. It's a sad day and a very bad day for Blackburn. I have a teenage daughter, more and more I fear for her safety
A FATHER and his two young sons were led to safety from their smoke-filled home. The 38-year-old man and the boys, aged ten and eight, were escorted from the property in Harley Avenue, Ainsworth, by firefighters. A pan of food on the cooker caught fire
Cumming and Goings with Stephen Cummings "IN the end," said Steve Cotterill following Saturday's draw, "we have to be happy with a point." Really? So how come I'm not? How come I left Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon feeling that this was two points dropped
THE directors of a Ramsbottom fire protection firm which crashed with debts of £692,000 will not be involved in company management for a combined total of 12 years. Undertakings not to hold directorships for that period have been given by Edward Caswell
HEALTH care support worker Ruth Taylor really does care. And to prove it Ruth, who works at Fairfield Hospital, was nominated for a special achievement award for her work with NVQ students at Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. After gaining NVQ level
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes launched a stinging attack on the match officials after he blamed them for costing his side a point at The Valley last night. A second half header from Charlton's Talal El Karkouri ultimately condemned Rovers to a
Rovers boss CHARLTON 1 ROVERS 0 MARK Hughes is beginning to discover just how cruel life can be for a Premiership manager as Blackburn Rovers suffered more heartache at The Valley. When Rovers lasted visited this ground in February, Graeme Souness left
A Rover all view with Jason Whalley WELL that's that then - the all too brief honeymoon period for the manager is now officially over. It's a kind of unwritten law that when a new manager comes into a club he then leads them on to a nice little run of
DETECTIVES are hunting two masked raiders after an armed robbery at a post office. The thugs -- one armed with a clawhammer -- confronted staff near the rear entrance of the premises in Bury New Road, Prestwich, at around 9.45am on Friday. The two stole
TEACHERS and pupils were set to hold a special assembly today to pray for a former pupil whose life hangs in the balance after falling out of a minibus. Wesley McDevitt, 18, of Lydgate, a former pupil at St Theodore's High School, Burnley, suffered extensive
FOLLOWING another busy close season that has involved extensive work on brickwork, stage lighting and interior decoration, Tyldesley Little Theatre members are eager to get back to business. Tickets are now on sale for the season opener Day of Reckoning
GOOD CAUSES in Burnley have benefited from a staggering £23,500 thanks to last year's mayoral fundraising efforts. Burnley's former First Citizen Coun Lilian Clark made a special presentation at Burnley Town Hall. Coun Clark picked two main charities
THE Post Office announced today that two further branches will close permanently in Burnley. Brunshaw Post Office and Oxford Road post office are to shut as part of a national programme. The decision means that 12 counters across Burnley and Pendle are
SPORT sessions for the community will be up and running at Woodhey High after the school scored a half-million pound lottery success. The Ramsbottom school has been awarded £562,400 by the Big Lottery Fund to create a modern multi-use games area for pupils
MORE than 650 children have been saved from potentially serious accidents in the home, thanks to a pioneering accident prevention scheme in Burnley and Pendle. And because of the scheme there have been major savings for the NHS, according to health professional
A ONCE popular open air pool is likely to be excluded from a £1.5million restoration project at a Nelson park. Pendle Council commissioned consultancy Strategic Leisure to investigate the feasibility of re-opening the lido in Marsden Park, which has fallen
BURNLEY mum-of-two Carole Cruz was able to walk to her death on the beach at St Annes unaware she was crossing the path of racing sand yachts. Just five small signs placed hundreds of yards apart on the landward side of the beach warns caution because
OXFORD UNITED 3, SHAKERS 1: AFTER their 6-1 drubbing at Yeovil a week earlier, Oxford called on the bulldog spirit of legendary former captain Ron Atkinson to steady the ship. Along with several other 'notables' from the U's recent history, Big Ron was
THE PARENTS of a Barrowford man, killed while on holiday in Scotland, today said he died doing something he loved. Anthony Birchall, 32, of Ann Street, died on Friday afternoon after slipping down Sgurr Alasdair on the Isle of Skye. He was on a climbing
A 51-YEAR-OLD nurse from Nelson has been charged with murdering three elderly patients. Ann Grigg-Booth, who lives in Henry Street, was first arrested in March last year by police investigating the death of a 96-year-old woman at Airedale General Hospital
I HAVE just moved to a property between Clarence Park and the former Bury General Hospital on Walmersley Road and I am disgusted by the rubbish dumped in the back streets. Fridges have been left and are an obvious risk for children. Now we have the remainder
DUERDEN Johnston, 51, of Mary Street, Blackburn, advertised for a wife by putting a note in his window, saying: "The owner of this house wants a wife. Please apply here in person between the hours of 8am and 10am, 12pm and 2pm and 6pm to 8.30pm. Protestant
THE directors of a Ramsbottom fire protection firm which crashed with debts of £692,000 will not be involved in company management for a combined total of 12 years. Undertakings not to hold directorships for that period have been given by Edward Caswell
FORMER Bury College student Laura Baker has been appointed as public relations assistant with Manchester-based Impact Media PR. Laura (20), had studied for an AVCE in media studies at Bury College. She has an in-depth understanding of the industry and
NORTH west businesses continue to make health and safety their top priority, according to latest figures from industry body the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA). Staff at their north west offices have now completed around 3,500 basic health and
THERE'S confident and optimistic news for the north west economy which is poised for rapid growth in capital investment and jobs. That's the upbeat message according to the latest Institute of Chartered Accountants / Alliance & Leicester Commercial
NEARLY a quarter of employees in the north west have suffered cross wires with colleagues or clients because their use of humour in an email has been misinterpreted. And more than two in ten have made a faux pas because their timing was wrong, according
THE protection of the UK's nuclear power stations and radioactive material has taken a hi-tech step forward with the help of a Bury telecoms company. Pennine Telecom, based at Salford Street in Bury, won a major contract to supply radio communications
TO STRENGTHEN Burnley boss to add to his squad BURNLEY boss Steve Cotterill wants to strengthen his squad with more competition for places up front. But his plans have been hampered by having to make sure he has enough defensive cover for tonight's Coca
City knocked out Milton Keynes Dons in the second round of the Carling Cup last Tuesday before slaying Wolves at Molineux on Saturday. Lawrence said: "This is another step forward but I'm not getting carried away. I don't want to hear talk of us having
STEVE Cotterill is one man who's happy that first impressions don't last. When the Clarets boss threw Richard Duffy on for his Burnley debut against Stoke on Saturday he wondered if he'd done the right thing as the 19-year-old made a nervy start to a
STEVE Harmison was the first to take a personal stand over England's winter tour to Zimbabwe - I'm sure he won't be the last. The Durham pace bowler feels he can't be a part of a trip to a country which in some ways I feel shouldn't be currently playing
CAMPAIGNERS are urging Bury Council to tread carefully when making a decision on village green status for land in Lowercroft. Members of the Friends of Cockey Moor, Whiteheads and Parkers Lodges say that councillors should not "rubber stamp" a report
BURNLEY boss Steve Cotterill wants to strengthen his squad with more competition for places up front. But his plans have been hampered by having to make sure he has enough defensive cover for tonight's Coca Cola Championship clash against Cardiff City
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes launched a stinging attack on the match officials after he blamed them for costing his side a point at The Valley last night. A second half header from Charlton's Talal El Karkouri ultimately condemned Rovers to a
Hyde United 3 Radcliffe 0: RADCLIFFE were given a lesson in finishing as Unibond Premier Division title hopefuls Hyde hit three second-half goals at Ewen Fields Monday night. Borough missed a host of first-half chances before Andy Heald hit the post just
A PAIR of trees are set to be axed to help make Rawtenstall town centre safer and more inviting. The two trees, in Bank Street, outside Boots and the Halifax Bank, are sycamore and are believed to have been planted more than 50 years ago. But planners
STEPHEN Mullen has a full strength squad to choose from as Darwen entertain Holker OB at the Anchor Ground tonight (kick-off 7.45pm). Phil Conroy and Steve Ross are available again and could be thrown straight back into the starting line-up. "It's good
EAST Lancashire MPs are enjoying varied involvement in this week's Labour Party Conference in Brighton. Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson launched her party conference week with a speech setting out Labour's needs to be radical. Parliamentary wannabe
TWO street robbers armed with a metal bar have struck six times in three weeks. One of the victims was a vulnerable, disabled man who has been left too scared to go out. Another was left lying unconscious. The robbers target men walking home on their
SEDGLEY PARK...8, OTLEY...28: STRENGTHENED by the return of full back Arno de Jager, Sedgley should have been buoyed for the visit of roses rivals Otley - but they weren't, writes ERNIE NEELEY. The local supporters were confident of earning at least a
IN an article in Bury Times (September 3), regarding Whitehead lodges, the Inspector considering the Village Green application referred to Lowercroft as not being "a neighbourhood". At two public meetings more than 350 neighbours were united in their
I AM particularly concerned about the proposals regarding a midwifery-led unit at Fairfield Hospital. I had my first baby at Fairfield and, as services stand at present, would not hesitate to have my maternity and post-natal care there. I would have been
GYNAECOLOGY must be one of the most sensitive, intimate and emotional areas of medicine. The levels of trust and openness between doctors, nurses and patients are paramount in making the patient feel confident and "in capable hands". All these qualities
A JURY is expected to begin hearing details on Tuesday of the tragic death of fireman Paul Metcalf, who died trying to rescue a teenager from a Holcombe Brook lodge. At the start of a three-week trial at Bolton Crown Court, Greater Manchester Fire and
