SADLY 2005 will go down as a year of natural disasters which wrought havoc on millions of people around the world. Following the destruction of the tsunami, October's tragedy in Kashmir and various other earthquakes killed tens of thousands and wrecked
RE Mrs Love's letter (LET, December 20) and her views about crime in our society. Showing tolerance to blatant perpetual offenders using racialism as an excuse for violent crimes committed, will not wash! Criminals get a caution by loopholes or laws which
THIEVES full of seasonal goodwill have returned stolen police cones after officers made a festive plea. Traffic officers covering Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley acted after 330 'No waiting' cones went missing in the last 12 months. They
BLACKBURN Rovers fans have discovered there is no such thing as a free lunch after a rival team withdrew a promise of free pies. Wigan owner Dave Whelan made the offer to say thank you to his former club when the two teams meet at the JJB stadium today
DO you believe in karma? Sure, most belief systems have their own individual spin on "do unto others . . ." but I'm talking about pure, unadulterated, don't-dish-it-out-if-you-can't-take-it karma. Every year at about this time I start to get the feeling
WAYNE Thomas will not forget an incident-packed year in a hurry. The defender began 2005 at the heart of the Stoke City side beaten 1-0 at home by Burnley. The summer saw him tracked all the way to Florida, where Steve Cotterill's 8,000-mile day trip
STEVE Cotterill has re-joined the chorus of disapproval at the "ridiculous" scheduling of the festive fixtures. Sports minister Richard Caborn has now ordered a review of the way the Premier League allocates Christmas games following a flood of complaints
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes plans to sit down with Tugay in the New Year and discuss the possibility of a new deal for the veteran midfielder. The former Turkish international is one of seven senior first team players who will be out of contract at the
IT'S that time of year again -- supposedly the biggest and best party night of the year. But if tonight you don't fancy queuing at a crowded bar and embracing strangers while you sing about forgetting old acquaintances, Burnley Mechanics might be able
AN 18-year-old girl spat in the face of a 14-year-old schoolgirl as she travelled home on a bus, a court was told. And Blackburn magistrates heard that Leila Freeston repeated her vile behaviour with another 14-year-old girl two weeks later. Freeston,
A man whose partner was allowed home for Christmas from a prison sentence imposed for manslaughter landed himself in custody after "losing it." Blackburn magistrates heard that John Thomas Reid threw a bin through the front room window and then went outside
A MAN wrote to police from prison and confessed to a series of burglaries so he could come out with a clean slate, a court was told. And Blackburn magistrates heard police were so impressed with Lee Holden's honesty they had sent a "reference" to court
SHOULD there be a public inquiry? There were calls for one on the London bombings. Next will be the petrol depot fire. So who do the BBC ask? An inquiry lawyer who makes a living from inquiries. It's like asking a monkey, "Do you like bananas?" Millions
IT is a pity we still don't have traitors gate for Tony Blair and Jack Straw. They should be hung, drawn and quartered for selling us out to the EU. I would bet a pound to a pinch of fertiliser (being polite) they would be terrified at the thought of
THAT the world's nations have agreed to debate measures to tackle climate change was a Christmas present. It's an incredibly complicated process with Europe providing the leadership. Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett deserves praise for her work
I AM writing to publicly thank all the NSPCC supporters in East Lancashire who have helped us make a difference to the lives of abused and neglected children in the past year. Thanks to your hard work and generosity many children had a happier Christmas
STEVE Cotterill has re-joined the chorus of disapproval at the "ridiculous" scheduling of the festive fixtures. Sports minister Richard Caborn has now ordered a review of the way the Premier League allocates Christmas games following a flood of complaints
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes plans to sit down with Tugay in the New Year and discuss the possibility of a new deal for the veteran midfielder. The former Turkish international is one of seven senior first team players who will be out of contract at the
PEOPLE in Hyndburn are being urged to recycle their Christmas trees. Hyndburn Council has organised collections of Christmas trees across the borough which be turned into compost or wood chippings. Residents should place their tree at their normal waste
CAMPAIGNERS against plans to build a waste treatment plant in Huncoat are taking their fight to Westminster. Villagers will tell roads minister Dr Stephen Ladyman, that if the Government gives the green light to the proposed facility on the former Huncoat
Skipper Frank Sinclair feels Burnley now have a squad capable of maintaining their play-off push into the New Year. Wayne Thomas's return from injury has strengthened Cotterill's defensive options as Burnley look to take their faultless home form on the
A DARWEN vicar has thanked his congregation and local people for helping to raise £10,000 towards church renovations. The Rev Andrew Holliday launched an appeal in March to raise £250,000 to make much-needed roof alterations to St Peter's Church. The
Police who were called to a domestic incident in Blackburn found Shaun Donald Pinder sitting on a settee wearing no pants and surrounded by smashed ornaments and pictures. Blackburn magistrates heard he was arrested to prevent a further breach of the
A FORMER super-market is set to be demolished and replaced with 86 homes inside an urban-gated community. Blackburn with Darwen Council has given approval for Enza Projects Ltd, a Chorley-based company, to create a housing estate where KwikSave currently
