Archive

  • Tenants flee drugs den

    POLICE swooped on a drugs den in Pendle, said to have been used to peddle heroin and ecstasy. Officers raided the house in Claremont Street, Brierfield, after tip-offs from residents. No drugs were found in the swoop as the tenants had fled days before

  • Banned from all shops in centre

    A PROLIFIC thief who targeted pensioners has been given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order banning her from Burnley town centre shops. Kelly Ferguson, 24, of Winsford Walk, Burnley, was slapped with the order after being convicted of six thefts, and one

  • Jack is aiming to bowl ’em over

    THE gentle game of crowning green bowling is to go crazy this weekend to get more youngsters involved. Demonstrations of a new version of the game are taking part on Saturday at Thomas Street Bowling Club, Percy Street, Nelson. Wuds 4 Fun is a new version

  • New Goal for Clarets stars

    FORGET Madonna and Franz Ferdinand Clarets stars Jon Harley and Danny Karbassiyoon are set for their own spot on a music TV channel. For the pair are set to become film critics for the day when they take part in a popular show on MTV. The Clarets'

  • Christmas lights up for talks

    COUNCILLORS in Nelson have already started talking about providing Christmas lights nine months before the festive season. The council hopes to avoid a repeat of last year, when the lights were heavily criticised as was the lack of a nativity scene.

  • Contract win is plain sailing

    A BACUP company has won a top contract to help stage the world's oldest and most famous yacht race. Next year the America's Cup regatta will be staged in Valencia the first time it has been held in Europe since the contest was formed in 1851. And Bacup-based

  • Burnley: Landlord and stocks keeper’s £2½m

    THE story of Old Shutt the stocks keeper held his direct descendant, local historian Steve Chapples, fascinated as he researched the past. During his delve back in time Steve has discovered that the Burnley village stocks were built outside the Old Sparrow

  • Burnley: Old Shutt poses for historic image

    THESE photographs of Shuttleworth Hind, born in 1804, and his mother Mally, could be the oldest ever taken in Burnley and, indeed, in the North West. It is believed they date from the early 1840s, when photography was in its infancy. They have been

  • Decorator stops blaze spreading

    A blaze broke out in a Waterfoot house being decorated when candles, on top of a wicker basket, melted after being left in front of a gas fire. The decorator closed the living room door, stopping the fire spreading. He and the home owner escaped unharmed

  • 15 jobs face axe in Baxi shake-up

    ABOUT 15 workers at Baxi's plant, in Padiham, are facing redundancy after the company announced an efficiency drive. Baxi, which makes boilers, said there would be changes in the management structures and design and development departments at its Wyre

  • D-Day on school in park

    CONTROVERSIAL plans to build one of Burnley's new super-schools' on land at the town's jewel in the crown' will be decided on next month. The scheme to build Unity College on playing fields at the entrance to Towneley Park has provoked fury among campaigners

  • Invite to root out your roots

    A SPECIAL day is being held in Nelson to discover how families have changed over the years. People who go along will have the chance to draw up their family tree. The event, on Monday, at Christ Church, Carr Road will also feature a performance by Up

  • Log thieves rob wildlife of homes

    GREEN campaigners fear people are stealing logs from a Pendle nature reserve which prov-ides a refuge for wildlife to use on their fires and stoves. Brian Jackson, co-ordinator for Friends of the Earth in Pendle, said thieves were desecrating the area

  • Levi action welcomed

    THE family of tragic toddler Levi Bleasdale today welcomed a government pledge to crackdown on drivers who kill. Grandfather Michael Ryan said the proposed change in the law was welcome but it should have been in place to properly punish the driver

  • Death riddle of mum, 37

    A MOTHER-OF-THREE who had a history of self-harming was found dead at her home, an inquest heard. The opening of the inquest into the death of Geraldine Rossiter, 37, was told she was found dead at home in Alma Street, Padiham, on March 1 East Lancashire

  • Dementia victim spends life-savings on care

    A PENSIONER suffering from dementia has been forced to spend more than £45,000 paying for care which her family claim should be free. Bed-ridden widow Barbara Garlick's situation has highlighted a growing number of cases where the NHS did not paying

  • Barritt reaches braking point

    DANIEL Barritt and his Japanese driver Fumio Nutahara waved goodbye to their lead in the Production World Rally Championship after a disastrous outing in Mexico. For their Mitsubishi Evo9 suffered two blown turbochargers, brake problems and a puncture

  • Deadly day for Dougie

    DOUGIE Lampkin's torrid world indoor trials campaign dropped to its lowest level when he finished in seventh place at the latest round held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Disaster struck in the very first section as Lampkin crashed heavily as his bike spun

  • Church snap up Metcalf

    CHURCH have snapped up all-rounder Andrew Metcalf from Ribblesdale League neighbours Oswaldtwistle Immanuel. The pace bowler, who has turned out for Derbyshire 2nds, follows in the footsteps of father Gerard and uncle Stephen, who both made their mark

  • Markendale blazes medal trail

    Eleanor Markendale set the tone for her fellow East Lancashire athletes at the AAAs Indoor Junior Championships, with her medal being the first of five for our athletes. The under 17 long jump was the first event of the weekend, and a 10am start on Saturday

  • Westgate takes the title

    The curtain came down on the local cross country season on Saturday with the sixth Mid Lancs fixture at a sunny but chilly Wilson Playing Fields. The first races on the card for the under 11s don't count towards a final league position, but give the

  • We still can’t afford to get carried away

    THE temptation is strong. Sitting 16 points clear at the top of the Conference, it would be easy for us to think our work is done. But it isn't. There are 10 games to go, 30 points to play for and we have to stay focused all the way to the finishing

  • Rovers linked with Mario

    Blackburn Rovers have been linked with a summer swoop for Birmingham City's former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot. The 29-year-old Dutchman is out of contract at the end of this season and Rovers and Bolton Wanderers have both been touted as possible

  • Midfield duo hand boost to Hughes

    BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes is confident Morten Gamst Pedersen and Tugay will be both be fit to face Aston Villa at Ewood Park this weekend. The midfield duo, who have both been instrumental in Rovers' meteoric rise up the Premier League table, had to

  • Savage: I will win this fight

    ROBBIE Savage last night insisted he will play for Wales again - but only once John Toshack has stepped down as manager. The Blackburn Rovers midfielder has not played for his country under Toshack since criticising the new regime after Mark Hughes stepped

  • Clarets hunting buoyant Rams

    Steve Cotterill must also pick his troops up for Saturday's trip to Derby, where Burnley go hunting for their first away win in 11 games dating back to Luton Town in early November. Following last weekend's home defeat to Champions-elect Reading, Cotterill

  • Cott deal almost finalised

    STEVE Cotterill's contract talks are expected to move closer to a resolution before this weekend's Championship clash at Derby County. I understand the Burnley manager and his chairman, Barry Kilby, will meet again in the latest round of protracted talks

  • ‘What a waste of time!’

    HEALTH chiefs have been accused of wasting people's time after it was revealed that building another new hospital in East Lancashire would cost an unaffordable £580million. The option one of five originally put forward by hospital chiefs has been dropped

  • Sharing ideas for getting to work more cheaply

    Only 20% of drivers who use their vehicles to travel to work currently car share, it was revealed today. Yet more than two-thirds think car sharing is a good idea, a survey from Halifax Car Insurance found. Sharing a journey with a friend could potentially

  • Ambitious show for opera group

    PENDLE Opera ambitiously undertook their first full production in 1978, their choice, one of the most popular operas ever written, Puccini's La Boheme. It was a great success. Since then Pendle Opera have gone from strength to strength performing spectacular

  • TV review: The Apprentice, BBC2

    CAN anyone tell me how the Charlie Dimmock look-alike Jo managed to avoid getting the sack' from last night's The Apprentice? As project manager for this week's task she warned her fellow team-mates most of whom appear to hate the very sound of her

  • Firms’ gold star awards

    BUSINESSES in Blackburn with Darwen have been honoured for their work employing staff with disabilities. The Employment Charter Awards were set up to raise awareness of the Disability Discrim-ination Act and the borough's Employment Charter scheme, which

  • Tots in tears -and SOS

    MAJORETTES are heartbroken after the theft of £1,800 which they had paid to enter national championships. Wendy Sharp, leader of the Witton Sovereigns, who train at Mill Hill Community Centre, Blackburn, today appealed for businesses to help send them

  • Film challenge

    BLACKBURN-born film director Michael Winterbottom has invited Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to attend a screening of his controversial factual drama The Road to Guantanamo in the town. "It would be great if Jack Straw would see it, and we'd hope he'd

  • Former fiance jailed over attack

    A FORMER scrapyard worker who twice attacked his ex-fiancee's on-off boyfriend has been jailed for 90 days. A court heard how Gareth Thomas, 23, of The Shires, Oakdale, Lower Darwen, but then living in the Waterfoot area, claimed victim William Bridge

  • The sky’s no limit!

    A SYKDYIVER has helped set a new world record by jumping out of a plane at 20,000 feet with 399 other people. Gordon Hodgkinson, 35, has parachuted 1,400 times and is part of the International Skydiving Team. Last month he was one of 400 skydivers who

  • Helpers sought for the village Green

    VOLUNTEERS are being sought to continue the good work of the Hoddlesden Millennium Green Committee, which was set up to maintain and improve the public area. The Green, which was officially opened in September, 2000, has been expanded and developed during

  • Teen found alcoholic mum dead

    A TEENAGER told her mum she loved her as she left for a Christmas night at a friend's house and returned the next day to find her dead. An inquest was told that GP nurse Janet Elizabeth Duckworth, 47, died on December 27 as a result of alcohol toxicity

  • Parking is up for discussion

    OSWALDTWISTLE Area Council will discuss the town's parking problems at its next meeting in June. Chairman Councillor Peter Britcliffe said parking was the main issue raised by residents at a recent drop-in session with local councillors. At a meeting

  • Dramatic changes to give a sense of hope

    EVER done a proper job Mr Straw?' was one of the questions I sometimes got when I was a younger Member of Parliament for Blackburn. I used to reply that I had never done an improper job, and if they really wanted to know my employment history up to the

  • Justice has not been done

    I AM responding to the article relating to the two men from Blackburn, jailed for possessing drugs (LET, February 27). There is no doubt in my mind the penalties given to these two men were justified. What I am totally disgusted at is the sheer lack

  • Opposition grumbles are bizarre

    THE bizarre claim by opposition councillors that they cannot raise issues they wish to raise within Blackburn with Darwen Council leaves some of us bewildered. It only takes two councillors to ensure a motion is placed on the agenda at a full council

  • Stay scruffy or you’ll pay dearly!

    HAVE you central heating, a conservatory, double glazing, a patio, flower beds, a vegetable patch and wait for it a pleasant view? If so, watch out because John Prescott is to send inspectors into our houses with high tech gadgets to see if we have any

  • ‘Ghetto life’ shock

    BLACKBURN and Burnley have the highest levels of segregation between whites and Asians in the country, according to a new report. And non-whites living in the two towns are more likely to live in racial "ghettos" and pockets of deprivation than any other

  • Plans for care home site

    Plans to demolish a former county council care home to make way for houses will go before Hyndburn Council's planning committee on April 5. Peel Court, in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, was one of 32 Lancashire County Council homes to be closed and sold,

  • Footballers’ celebration

    HUNDREDS of foot-ballers who faced having their season ruined by arsonists are to get new changing rooms. The Harvey Street pavilion, at the Foxhill Bank pitches, Oswaldtwistle, was destroyed in a suspected arson attack in January. It was used by dozens

  • Call to spell out ‘op’ risks

    A PATIENTS' watchdog boss who went into shock after her husband's death has hit out at surgeons for not explaining the risks of surgery. And Mollie Manthorpe pledged to raise the issue with East Lancashire hospital bosses for the sake of others, and

  • A canal walk for charity

    THE Rotary Club of Church and Oswaldtwistle is encouraging walkers to join a sponsored walk to raise funds for the charity, association or club of their choice. The Great Charity Walk, which is being held on Sunday, June 25, starts from the Dunkenhalgh

  • Family in tribute to Luke, 16

    THE FAMILY of a 16-year-old boy who died at the wheel of a powerful 4x4 vehicle today paid tribute to their son. Luke Makinson, who was not old enough to have a licence, died in the early hours of Sunday when the Land Rover he was driving collided with

  • Two pupils arrested over blaze at school

    TWO pupils have been arrested on suspicion of starting a fire at Darwen Vale High School. Staff saw smoke coming from outside the building during the morning break at around 10.45am yesterday. Firefighters were called and it was discovered that some

  • Psychic never saw trouble coming

    A PSYCHIC medium was arrested at one of his events after he punched a member of the audience who accused him of being a fake. Today Stephen Holbrook, who was given a police caution after admitting the assault, said: "I never saw it coming. "I will have

  • Full steam ahead

    A WOMAN is bidding to speed into the record books by becoming the first person to take a steam-powered vehicle over the 200mph mark. Burnley-born Annette Getty, 26, will try to break the record in the Driving Inspiration steam car in Britain, the USA

  • Developer pushes to sell shops plan

    DEVELOPERS have launched a campaign to win round protesters who fear a rejuvenated out-of-town shopping centre will kill trade in Accrington. Peel Holdings has already had its proposals to revamp the Peel Centre, at Whitebirk, blocked once by Hyndburn

  • £14m bus station plan

    TWO new town centre bus stations are at the heart of a £14million plan aimed at keeping a borough moving for the next decade. Blackburn with Darwen Council today confirmed a scheme to replace the shelters on The Boulevard, Blackburn, and The Circus,

  • Markendale blazes medal trail

    Eleanor Markendale set the tone for her fellow East Lancashire athletes at the AAAs Indoor Junior Championships, with her medal being the first of five for our athletes. The under 17 long jump was the first event of the weekend, and a 10am start on Saturday

  • Stay scruffy or you'll pay dearly!

    HAVE you central heating, a conservatory, double glazing, a patio, flower beds, a vegetable patch and wait for it a pleasant view? If so, watch out because John Prescott is to send inspectors into our houses with high tech gadgets to see if we have any

  • Justice has not been done

    I AM responding to the article relating to the two men from Blackburn, jailed for possessing drugs (LET, February 27). There is no doubt in my mind the penalties given to these two men were justified. What I am totally disgusted at is the sheer lack of

  • Fight to save card account

    Chorley sub-postmasters are backing a campaign to oppose the phasing out of the post office card account. Proprietors of the three remaining sub-post offices in Chorley claim it will spell the death knell for thousands of offices around the country as

  • Kwik Save store to close

    Chorley's Kwik Save supermarket is to close later this month with the loss of 15 jobs. The Bolton Road store is to close on March 29 following a nationwide shake-up by owners Somerfield. Staff were told of their imminent redundancy on Monday as preparations

  • 'Ghetto life' shock

    BLACKBURN and Burnley have the highest levels of segregation between whites and Asians in the country, according to a new report. And non-whites living in the two towns are more likely to live in racial "ghettos" and pockets of deprivation than any other

  • £14m bus station plan

    TWO new town centre bus stations are at the heart of a £14million plan aimed at keeping a borough moving for the next decade. Blackburn with Darwen Council today confirmed a scheme to replace the shelters on The Boulevard, Blackburn, and The Circus, Darwen

  • Dementia victim spends life-savings on care

    A PENSIONER suffering from dementia has been forced to spend more than £45,000 paying for care which her family claim should be free. Bed-ridden widow Barbara Garlick's situation has highlighted a growing number of cases where the NHS did not paying to

  • Rovers linked with Mario

    Blackburn Rovers have been linked with a summer swoop for Birmingham City's former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot. The 29-year-old Dutchman is out of contract at the end of this season and Rovers and Bolton Wanderers have both been touted as possible

  • Savage: I will win this fight

    ROBBIE Savage last night insisted he will play for Wales again - but only once John Toshack has stepped down as manager. The Blackburn Rovers midfielder has not played for his country under Toshack since criticising the new regime after Mark Hughes stepped

  • Shock at Baxi plans to move headquarters

    Nearly 100 jobs could be on the line at Baxi Heating if bosses push ahead with plans to move its UK head office out of Preston. Workers were told this week that the firm wants to relocate its Brownedge Road headquarters in Bamber Bridge, to its Warwick

  • Street name honour for Nick?

    Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park could be right up your street if Preston's mayor gets his way. Councillor Bhiku Patel is pushing forward on plans to name a street after the Preston-born animator. It comes after Nick clinched his fourth Oscar this

  • Classes cancelled as lecturers work to rule

    Teaching staff at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are working to rule and refusing to mark books or set paperwork as part of industrial action over pay. It follows a one-day strike on Tuesday when classes had to be cancelled after members

  • 15 jobs face axe in Baxi shake-up

    ABOUT 15 workers at Baxi's plant, in Padiham, are facing redundancy after the company announced an efficiency drive. Baxi, which makes boilers, said there would be changes in the management structures and design and development departments at its Wyre

  • 'Ghetto life' shock

    BLACKBURN and Burnley have the highest levels of segregation between whites and Asians in the country, according to a new report. And non-whites living in the two towns are more likely to live in racial "ghettos" and pockets of deprivation than any other

  • An ice cold beer...

    A CITY pub boss says he will go to court rather than hand over more than £1,000 in a gas bill - especially as he has had his meters removed. Temperatures in theBritannia, on Ullswater Road, have dropped sub-zero after engineers from Total Gas Supplies

  • We'll drink to that

    MORECAMBE'S famous Winter Gardens has been sold and should be up and running as a multi-purpose venue in five years. The grade-two listed building has been finally bought by the Friends of the Winter Gardens for £250,000. And that marks a big victory

  • Invite to root out your roots

    A SPECIAL day is being held in Nelson to discover how families have changed over the years. People who go along will have the chance to draw up their family tree. The event, on Monday, at Christ Church, Carr Road will also feature a performance by Up

  • Christmas lights up for talks

    COUNCILLORS in Nelson have already started talking about providing Christmas lights nine months before the festive season. The council hopes to avoid a repeat of last year, when the lights were heavily criticised as was the lack of a nativity scene. A

  • Sue braves desert heat

    From Preston to the Sahara! That's the goal for businesswoman, Sue Quinton, when she endures a gruelling 65-mile charity trek across North Africa. Sue, 42, works as a business advisor at Preston Financial Solutions Centre, Preston Docklands. But last

  • Home win vital for play-off push

    Chorley player-manager Shaun Teale hopes to have recovered from a hamstring problem in time to play against Gresley Rovers at Victory Park on Saturday. There were hopes Chorley may also have a couple of new signings by the weekend but they have have been

  • Family in tribute to Luke, 16

    THE FAMILY of a 16-year-old boy who died at the wheel of a powerful 4x4 vehicle today paid tribute to their son. Luke Makinson, who was not old enough to have a licence, died in the early hours of Sunday when the Land Rover he was driving collided with

  • Jack Straw column: Dramatic changes to give a sense of hope

    EVER done a proper job Mr Straw?' was one of the questions I sometimes got when I was a younger Member of Parliament for Blackburn. I used to reply that I had never done an improper job, and if they really wanted to know my employment history up to the

  • Match report: Lancaster City 2 Leigh RMI 0

    LANCASTER City hit the magical 40 point mark as they battled hard in the rain to beat Leigh RMI at Giant Axe. That points target wast the pre-season aim but manager Peter Ward still reckons his men need to keep up the good work to ensure an often difficult

  • Snow break helps Joseph's recovery

    The Seasiders will hope the sun is shining on them this week after last weekend's Arctic conditions saw their game at Bradford called off. The Valley Parade outfit didn't even wait until Saturday to declare the pitch unplayable, with the game scrapped

  • Cott deal almost finalised

    STEVE Cotterill's contract talks are expected to move closer to a resolution before this weekend's Championship clash at Derby County. I understand the Burnley manager and his chairman, Barry Kilby, will meet again in the latest round of protracted talks

  • Clarets hunting buoyant Rams

    Steve Cotterill must try to pick his troops up for Saturday's trip to Derby, where Burnley go hunting for their first away win in 11 games dating back to Luton Town in early November. Following last weekend's home defeat to Champions-elect Reading, Cotterill

  • New Goal for Clarets stars

    FORGET Madonna and Franz Ferdinand Clarets stars Jon Harley and Danny Karbassiyoon are set for their own spot on a music TV channel. For the pair are set to become film critics for the day when they take part in a popular show on MTV. The Clarets' summer

  • Church snap up Metcalf

    CHURCH have snapped up all-rounder Andrew Metcalf from Ribblesdale League neighbours Oswaldtwistle Immanuel. The pace bowler, who has turned out for Derbyshire 2nds, follows in the footsteps of father Gerard and uncle Stephen, who both made their mark

  • Deadly day for Dougie

    DOUGIE Lampkin's torrid world indoor trials campaign dropped to its lowest level when he finished in seventh place at the latest round held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Disaster struck in the very first section as Lampkin crashed heavily as his bike spun on

  • New tower experience

    Visitors to Blackpool Tower are set to get a new view on the resort's most famous landmark this year. For the first time, members of the public could be using walkways normally only seen by tower staff under plans revealed this week by the building's

  • Nick bids to retain Singapore title

    Chorley's Nick Dougherty will be hoping to continue his recent good form when he bids to retain his title at this week's Singapore Masters. Dougherty, 23, has finished in the top 10 in three of his first six events of the season and occupies seventh place

  • Sue swops beach run for the desert sands

    From Starr Gate to the Sahara! That's the goal for 42-year-old Blackpool woman, Sue Quinton, this week as she carries out a gruelling 65 mile charity trek across the North African desert in aid of The British Lung Foundation. Sue, who lives in the Stanley

  • 15 jobs face axe in Baxi shake-up

    ABOUT 15 workers at Baxi's plant, in Padiham, are facing redundancy after the company announced an efficiency drive. Baxi, which makes boilers, said there would be changes in the management structures and design and development departments at its Wyre

  • Helpers sought for the village Green

    VOLUNTEERS are being sought to continue the good work of the Hoddlesden Millennium Green Committee, which was set up to maintain and improve the public area. The Green, which was officially opened in September, 2000, has been expanded and developed during

  • Former fiance jailed over attack

    A FORMER scrapyard worker who twice attacked his ex-fiancee's on-off boyfriend has been jailed for 90 days. A court heard how Gareth Thomas, 23, of The Shires, Oakdale, Lower Darwen, but then living in the Waterfoot area, claimed victim William Bridge

  • Two pupils arrested over blaze at school

    TWO pupils have been arrested on suspicion of starting a fire at Darwen Vale High School. Staff saw smoke coming from outside the building during the morning break at around 10.45am yesterday. Firefighters were called and it was discovered that some rubbish

  • The sky's no limit!

    A SYKDYIVER has helped set a new world record by jumping out of a plane at 20,000 feet with 399 other people. Gordon Hodgkinson, 35, has parachuted 1,400 times and is part of the International Skydiving Team. Last month he was one of 400 skydivers who

  • £14m bus station plan

    TWO new town centre bus stations are at the heart of a £14million plan aimed at keeping a borough moving for the next decade. Blackburn with Darwen Council today confirmed a scheme to replace the shelters on The Boulevard, Blackburn, and The Circus, Darwen

  • Planners should listen to our views

    Residents in the neighbourhood of Samlesbury and Walton-le-Dale recently objected to a plan to subdivide a semi-rural residential home into four dwellings. The petition and objections were made with regards to traffic congestion; health and safety of

  • Police merger is a disaster

    As many of your readers already know, I am totally opposed to the proposed Lancashire/Cumbria police merger. I am appalled that both the Lancashire Police Authority and Lancashire Constabulary are going along with the Home Secretary's railroading of local

  • Pupils chipper over fish oil aid

    Pupils at a Fylde school have helped pioneer a new way of ensuring GCSE exam success. More than 200 Year 11 students at Fleetwood Sports College, Broadway in the port, have racked up the school's highest ever recorded exam results after taking Omega 3

  • Aiming high for Kieron

    A Bispham mum who lost her 'miracle' son in a tragic accident hopes to raise almost £20,000 in his memory by climbing Africa's highest mountain. Carer Cheryl Cunliffe will mark what would have been the 18th birthday of her only child, Kieron Horton, this

  • Reassurance given to club

    Former service people whose club stands in the way of a major regeneration scheme have been assured they will be given new premises as part of the development. Members of the Royal British Legion collected more than 1,500 signatures on a petition to protect

  • Lights out for summer season

    There were fears for the future of Blackpool's North Pier this week as news emerged that the 103-year old theatre would not run a summer variety season this year. The Grade II listed building's owners, Leisure Parcs, have refused to comment on reports

  • Litter wardens

    In response to last week's letter by Donna Hall, chief executive of Chorley Borough Council, has she or anyone else in the council only just noticed that the streets and pavements of Chorley are a filthy disgrace? They have been like this for years, for

  • Christian lectures

    As letters in the Citizen over recent weeks have shown there is a continuing interest in discussing the role in society of religion in general and Christianity in particular. Readers of the Citizen may, therefore, be interested in a series of lectures

  • Scientists believe too

    Mr Richmond's letter in the Citizen regarding religion (Forget the Bible and Stick to Facts), repeats a number of well-worn accusations against religion in general and the Bible in particular. He holds religion responsible for wars, which fails to notice

  • Food fight over TV 'nightmare'

    Top TV chef Gordon Ramsay has come under fire after labelling an award-winning Blackpool restaurant a 'kitchen nightmare'. Both Blackpool tourism chief, Jane Seddon, and restaurateurs, Dave Jackson and Dawn Brindley, claim the celebrity chef was scathingly

  • Tots in tears -and SOS

    MAJORETTES are heartbroken after the theft of £1,800 which they had paid to enter national championships. Wendy Sharp, leader of the Witton Sovereigns, who train at Mill Hill Community Centre, Blackburn, today appealed for businesses to help send them

  • Film challenge

    BLACKBURN-born film director Michael Winterbottom has invited Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to attend a screening of his controversial factual drama The Road to Guantanamo in the town. "It would be great if Jack Straw would see it, and we'd hope he'd know

  • 'Ghetto life' shock

    BLACKBURN and Burnley have the highest levels of segregation between whites and Asians in the country, according to a new report. And non-whites living in the two towns are more likely to live in racial "ghettos" and pockets of deprivation than any other

  • Prize guy Nugent

    North End striker David Nugent has won The Young Player of the Year Award at the Football League Awards. Nugent received the accolade as a result of being ranked the highest under-21 representative, and sixth overall, in The FourFourTwo Top 50 Football

  • Westgate takes the title

    The curtain came down on the local cross country season on Saturday with the sixth Mid Lancs fixture at a sunny but chilly Wilson Playing Fields. The first races on the card for the under 11s don't count towards a final league position, but give the younger

  • Learning and living together

    Much has been done in recent years to try to ensure people from Asian and white backgrounds in this country mix together. The report a few years ago into the causes of the violence that took place in Burnley as other areas of the North West like Oldham

  • Opposition grumbles are bizarre

    THE bizarre claim by opposition councillors that they cannot raise issues they wish to raise within Blackburn with Darwen Council leaves some of us bewildered. It only takes two councillors to ensure a motion is placed on the agenda at a full council

  • Benefit cheat caught after tip-off

    A father claimed he was living alone to gain more than £4,000 in extra benefits despite the fact his son was living with him and working full-time. Magistrates heard that Ronald Ellis, 57, of Chorcliffe Mews, Chorley, claimed the extra cash in housing

  • Enjoy your soup and the bowl too!

    Crumbs . . . a popular Chorley sandwich shop has used its loaf by introducing an unusual new line that is set to bowl customers over. Soup lovers who visit The Filling Station, Pall Mall, Chorley, really won't leave anything to spare - as the ground breaking

  • Youths blamed for church vandalism

    A village minister has appealed to parents to keep tabs on their children after stained glass windows were smashed at his church. Rev Doug Smith, of Hillside Methodist Church, Brinscall, was alerted to the vandalism after a group of youths were seen drinking

  • Housing protest plan

    A town centre demonstration is set to take place in protest at plans to transfer all Chorley's council houses from local authority control. Chorley Borough Council is planning to ballot all tenants of the 2,900 council properties on whether they wish

  • Barn looted for historic stone

    Thieves who have been targeting rural landmarks, have snatched two pieces of irreplaceable stonework, featured in local history books. The thieves struck at New Hall Barn near Rivington village green where they stole a piece of stonework known as the

  • Cuts at the top

    Some of the Town Hall's top brass are set to lose their jobs in a cost-cutting exercise. Four executive posts are to go as the senior management team is reduced to 11 from 15, generating £110,000 saving per annum to council tax payers. Among the posts

  • Midfield duo hand boost to Hughes

    BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes is confident Morten Gamst Pedersen and Tugay will be both be fit to face Aston Villa at Ewood Park this weekend. The midfield duo, who have both been instrumental in Rovers' meteoric rise up the Premier League table, had to

  • Charity aims to put news online

    A charity that records the Citizen every week for 6,000 blind and visually impaired people is looking for help to expand the service. Galloway's Society for the Blind, based at Howick Park Avenue, Penwortham, has been running its talking newspaper service

  • Sing if you win it

    A chance to sing in front of thousands of football fans awaits the winner of Preston College's Pop Wannabe competition. Ten talented students will battle it out to be the winner and will hope to follow the chart success of the X Factor's Chico. The winner

  • Fighting plan for abattoir

    Residents opposed to plans for an abattoir in Hutton will make their feelings known at a meeting next week. Leaflets have been distributed in Longton, New Longton and Hutton to encourage people to attend a meeting of South Ribble Borough Council's planning

  • No strangers to the limelight

    A council worker will leave her smart suit behind and pick up her microphone for the Citizen-backed, Search for a Star competition. Angela Anderton, 21, of Penwortham, is no stranger to the limelight, she has been singing and dancing since the tender

  • Rachel calls for help to lead a normal life

    A teenager suffering from a rare and incurable condition is appealing for help to live a 'normal' life. Rachel Parkes, 14, from Bamber Bridge, suffers from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. It is a rare genetic condition that causes bones to develop

  • Burglars tied up victims

    Police in Preston are appealing for witnesses after three people were assaulted in two separate incidents. Two people were subjected to a serious assault in their home in Parkside, Lea, on Monday. The incident happened between 9pm and 9.30pm on Monday

  • Death riddle of mum, 37

    A MOTHER-OF-THREE who had a history of self-harming was found dead at her home, an inquest heard. The opening of the inquest into the death of Geraldine Rossiter, 37, was told she was found dead at home in Alma Street, Padiham, on March 1. East Lancashire

  • Banned from all shops in centre

    A PROLIFIC thief who targeted pensioners has been given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order banning her from Burnley town centre shops. Kelly Ferguson, 24, of Winsford Walk, Burnley, was slapped with the order after being convicted of six thefts, and one count

  • D-Day on school in park

    CONTROVERSIAL plans to build one of Burnley's new super-schools' on land at the town's jewel in the crown' will be decided on next month. The scheme to build Unity College on playing fields at the entrance to Towneley Park has provoked fury among campaigners

  • Levi action welcomed

    THE family of tragic toddler Levi Bleasdale today welcomed a government pledge to crackdown on drivers who kill. Grandfather Michael Ryan said the proposed change in the law was welcome but it should have been in place to properly punish the driver who

  • Dementia victim spends life-savings on care

    A PENSIONER suffering from dementia has been forced to spend more than £45,000 paying for care which her family claim should be free. Bed-ridden widow Barbara Garlick's situation has highlighted a growing number of cases where the NHS did not paying to

  • It's an eyesore

    COUNCIL rubbish busters will visit a quiet riverside area which has been turned into a dumping ground by fly-tippers. And if the junk busters catch the culprits they will be hit with a fine after their rubble was left on the car park next to the John

  • Killer could be out next year

    A KILLER who strangled his bigamous wife with a bootlace after hearing voices in his head can apply for release on parole next year after a top judge's ruling. Carlos Antonio Monks, then aged 27, pleaded guilty to murdering his wife' Katryn Sprinthall

  • Diver died in quarry

    A QUALIFIED diver died after being in the water with his wife and a number of friends at the Capernwray Diving Centre in Carnforth, an inquest heard. A jury of five men and six women heard that on April 24 last year John Gill, 50, from Denton Drive, in

  • Bus ticket is no joke

    A bus driver reckons a traffic attendant was having a laugh when he slapped a ticket on his windscreen while the bus was parked in a bus stop. Mark Crossley had left his X100 service bus in a bus stop in Morecambe's Central Drive because the regular coach

  • Bring on the beauties

    FORMER Miss Morecambe Sherry Bell is delighted to hear that the competition is making a comeback. Sherry won the competition in 1965 and said she was thrilled when she read that the Citizen's Bring back the beauties' appeal had led to the revival of the

  • Jack is aiming to bowl 'em over

    THE gentle game of crowning green bowling is to go crazy this weekend to get more youngsters involved. Demonstrations of a new version of the game are taking part on Saturday at Thomas Street Bowling Club, Percy Street, Nelson. Wuds 4 Fun is a new version

  • Log thieves rob wildlife of homes

    GREEN campaigners fear people are stealing logs from a Pendle nature reserve which prov-ides a refuge for wildlife to use on their fires and stoves. Brian Jackson, co-ordinator for Friends of the Earth in Pendle, said thieves were desecrating the area

  • Tory stalwart stands dow

    A former Tory leader who has been a Preston councillor for nearly 40 years, will stand down in May for health reasons. Councillor Joseph Hood, 79, will retire at the next local elections on May 4. He has represented Greyfriars since 1969. Coun Hood was

  • Roger opens his art for charity

    A budding artist, who works at the Royal Preston Hospital, is holding an exhibition of his work to raise funds for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation. Roger Newman, a speech and language therapist at the Sharoe Green Lane hospital, has made ceramics as a

  • Jail for pair caught with heroin in car

    Two men have been jailed for a total of 17 years for importing nearly seven kilos of heroin with a street value of £500,000. Simon Taylor, 24, of Wigton Avenue, Leyland, and Thomas Ball, 34, of Brownedge Close, Walton-le-Dale, were sentenced to seven

  • Parking is up for discussion

    OSWALDTWISTLE Area Council will discuss the town's parking problems at its next meeting in June. Chairman Councillor Peter Britcliffe said parking was the main issue raised by residents at a recent drop-in session with local councillors. At a meeting

  • Footballers' celebration

    HUNDREDS of footballers who faced having their season ruined by arsonists are to get new changing rooms. The Harvey Street pavilion, at the Foxhill Bank pitches, Oswaldtwistle, was destroyed in a suspected arson attack in January. It was used by dozens

  • Developer pushes to sell shops plan

    DEVELOPERS have launched a campaign to win round protesters who fear a rejuvenated out-of-town shopping centre will kill trade in Accrington. Peel Holdings has already had its proposals to revamp the Peel Centre, at Whitebirk, blocked once by Hyndburn

  • End of the dream

    Squires Gate's FA Vase dream came crashing to a halt in Hillingdon on Saturday. The brave North West Counties League outfit were undone by a goal from the Vase's leading scorer, Dave Lawrence and a late second by midfielder Danny Tilbury in their clash

  • Barritt reaches braking point

    DANIEL Barritt and his Japanese driver Fumio Nutahara waved goodbye to their lead in the Production World Rally Championship after a disastrous outing in Mexico. For their Mitsubishi Evo9 suffered two blown turbochargers, brake problems and a puncture

  • Pair in court over Charlene murder

    Two men appeared before Blackpool Magistrates on Thursday in connection with the murder of missing teenager, Charlene Downes. Iyad Albattikhi, 28, of Dickson Road in the resort is charged with murder and Mohammed Raveshi, 49, of Hornby Road, is charged

  • Last minute deal done on centre revamp

    Builders will move in later this month to begin the long-awaited £30 million extension of the Hounds Hill Shopping Centre after developers and Blackpool Council reached an eleventh hour deal. The new owners of the centre, Modus Properties, will begin

  • Cott deal almost finalised

    STEVE Cotterill's contract talks are expected to move closer to a resolution before this weekend's Championship clash at Derby County. I understand the Burnley manager and his chairman, Barry Kilby, will meet again in the latest round of protracted talks

  • Savage: I will win this fight

    ROBBIE Savage last night insisted he will play for Wales again - but only once John Toshack has stepped down as manager. The Blackburn Rovers midfielder has not played for his country under Toshack since criticising the new regime after Mark Hughes stepped

  • Firms' gold star awards

    BUSINESSES in Blackburn with Darwen have been honoured for their work employing staff with disabilities. The Employment Charter Awards were set up to raise awareness of the Disability Discrim-ination Act and the borough's Employment Charter scheme, which

  • Contract win is plain sailing

    A BACUP company has won a top contract to help stage the world's oldest and most famous yacht race. Next year the America's Cup regatta will be staged in Valencia the first time it has been held in Europe since the contest was formed in 1851. And Bacup-based

  • Council tax hikes hurt

    It is sad that South Ribble, the Labour/LibDem-controlled council has stopped the weekly back door collection of general refuse. Although I support the promotion of recycling, this should not have been at the cost of a core service which most residents

  • Dream come true for ice king Dan

    Blackpool ice maestro, Dan Whiston, is set for a quick reunion with Dancing on Ice-winning partner, Gaynor Faye. The former Coronation Street actress is set to be guest of honour when the curtain goes up on this year's Hot Ice Show less than a month from

  • Council rap for 'letting down' disabled OAP

    Blackpool Council failed to act on a 'catalogue of complaints' about a private care company which was 13 hours late visiting a 79-year-old double amputee. The woman, who died eight days later, was 'badly let down' by the council, according to a damning

  • Therapy aid plan to help long-term sick

    Some of the most ill people on the Fylde coast could soon be offered charity funded complementary therapy to help them cope. Blackpool's Institute of Complementary Healthcare, Education and Research (ICHER), which has applied for charity status, will

  • Hunt on for killer of young mum

    Detectives have stepped-up the hunt for the husband of a young Blackpool mum stabbed to death at home as her toddler daughter slept. A team of officers from Blackpool travelled down to Essex in their search for Daniel 'Danny' Goldsmith, 29, who has been

  • Preserving the best of Blackpool

    A bid to preserve the best of Blackpool is being launched with the creation of the resort's first heritage strategy. The strategy aims to preserve the resort's traditions, from landmarks like the Tower and the Winter Gardens to more down-to-earth historical

  • Improve this rubbish service

    I write in response to the letter by Chorley Borough Council chief executive Donna Hall in last week's Citizen, (Council is Aware of Cleaning Issues). I find her comments perplexing. I have contacted Chorley Borough Council about nine times since this

  • 'Stabbed in the back'

    A retired policeman who devoted almost 40 years of his life to Lancashire Constabulary said he feels he has been "stabbed in the back" by his former employers. Keith Ainley, 58, lives just yards from the proposed training centre in Lindle Lane, Hutton

  • Teen found alcoholic mum dead

    A TEENAGER told her mum she loved her as she left for a Christmas night at a friend's house and returned the next day to find her dead. An inquest was told that GP nurse Janet Elizabeth Duckworth, 47, died on December 27 as a result of alcohol toxicity

  • Psychic never saw trouble coming

    A PSYCHIC medium was arrested at one of his events after he punched a member of the audience who accused him of being a fake. Today Stephen Holbrook, who was given a police caution after admitting the assault, said: "I never saw it coming. "I will have

  • £14m bus station plan

    TWO new town centre bus stations are at the heart of a £14million plan aimed at keeping a borough moving for the next decade. Blackburn with Darwen Council today confirmed a scheme to replace the shelters on The Boulevard, Blackburn, and The Circus, Darwen

  • North End could face ex-skipper

    CHRIS Lucketti could find himself playing against North End after Preston failed to include a clause banning him from turning out for his new club. Although North End have played Sheffield United twice in the league this season, there is still a possibility

  • Fylde slide to another defeat

    Fylde 17 Macclesfield 32: Great efforts were made by Fylde officials and volunteers to enable this game to go ahead on a snowy Saturday. They must have wondered if it was worth it after watching another very disappointing home performance by their team

  • Hybrid motors

    The use of eco-friendly hybrid cars increased by 74 per cent, signalling that this sector of the market is really taking off. And one in six British motorists would consider following the likes of celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney

  • Survey hits older drivers

    Motoring surveys don't usually cover contentious issues, but this latest one conducted for an insurance company is likely to ruffle a few mature feathers. According to www.motorinsurance.co.uk, more than two in five drivers think elderly motorists are

  • County council is ‘one of best’

    Lancashire County Council (LCC) has received praise following an independent inspection by the Audit Commission. The report covers accounts, performance management and financial management of corporate governance. Mike Thomas, district auditor, said

  • Nick bids to retain Singapore title

    Chorley's Nick Dougherty will be hoping to continue his recent good form when he bids to retain his title at this week's Singapore Masters. Dougherty, 23, has finished in the top 10 in three of his first six events of the season and occupies seventh

  • Game to teach drug issues

    Children and staff at Lancashire primary schools will learn how to make the right moves to tackle drug issues with the launch of a new educational board game. Joint Efforts Primary Edition' has been designed by Lancashire County Council's school and

  • Don’t be dim – light up

    Despite the winter weather and the poor visibility many drivers seem curiously reluctant to put their dipped headlights on. Perhaps this is a hangover from the days when cars had only basic electronics and there was a risk that having too many electrical