Archive

  • Rossendale Borough Council local election results

    2006 election results for Rossendale Borough Council. HELMSHORE Brian Walter Essex (Con) 897 Stuart Haines (Lab) 549 Jim Pilling (Lib Dem)* 275 Turnout 38.3 percent Con hold WORSLEY Hilary Patricia Anne Dickinson (Con) 564 Marilyn

  • Burnley Borough Council local election results

    2006 election results for Burnley Borough Council. BANK HALL Justin Birtwistle (Lib Dem) 607 Paul Coates (Con) 204 Gary Frayling (Lab) 718 Allen Harris (Lib Dem) 524 Imtiaz Hussain (Lab) 599 Turnout 37.3 per cent Lab hold/ Lib Dem

  • Choose: The Queen or Tony!

    I ASSUME Joe Beardsworth, when he abolishes the monarchy, will replace it with a presidency and with it the unpleasant stench of party politics. Would anyone in their right mind exchange the Queen for a Schroeder, Chirac, Bush or Mugabe? Enough

  • Clarets dress to impress

    BURNLEY will look Premiership class in their brand new kit as they make an assault for promotion next season. The club launched their new strips for the 2006/7 campaign this week and Steve Cotterill's side will certainly be dressed to thrill. The Clarets

  • Heroin dealer jailed by judge cries in dock

    A YOUNG dad involved in supplying hard drugs worth up to £1,000 a day for a month has been jailed for two years. Christopher Taylor, 20, had heroin and cash on him when confronted by police yet officers might not have been able to prove he was dealing

  • Super dooper pooper scooper

    A HIGH-tech machine called the Super Dooper Pooper Scooper' is being brought into to clean up dog dirt in Rossendale. The £19,000 all-terrain vehicle which sucks up the dirt will be used on streets, parks, open spaces, playing fields and sports pitches

  • Kitty wins soccer cash supporters

    A CALL by Burnley MP Kitty Ussher to stop banks making money out of football clubs has received overwhelming support in the House of Commons. And Mrs Ussher today said the petition was the first step in a campaign to highlight the issue over season ticket

  • Hotel boss fined over loud noise

    THE owner of Colne's Hendly Hotel has been fined after residents living nearby complain-ed of months of loud music making their lives a misery. Landlord Bernard Collins was found guilty of three breaches of a noise abatement notice served on him in March

  • Cop finds bus beat easier on the feet

    A POLICE officer pounding the Pendle beat has turned his back on the traditional bike to get around. For the latest recruit responsible for policing in Barrowford and Western Parishes will be taking the bus to get round his rural beat more easily. Police

  • Naseem’s historic day clouded by BNP win

    PENDLE saw a night of two contrasting election firsts as a British National Party candidate and an Asian woman were voted in. The Liberal Democrats remained the majority party in the borough with 29 councillors, while the BNP gained one seat, Conservatives

  • Settle's tough start

    ramsbottom Cup holders Settle begin the defence of their trophy with a tough trip to Baxenden. The Back Lane side have had a good start to the season and the Yorkshire side will have their work cut out tomorrow. Last season's runners up Edenfield

  • East Lancs skipper calls on old heads

    EAST Lancs captain Phil Bolton is hoping his side can kick-start their season with a victory at home to Ramsbottom in the SponsorBank Lancashire League tomorrow. The 2003 champions have hardly made the most auspicious of starts to the campaign, tasting

  • Decision time for Reds

    THE anxious wait will soon be over for Accrington Stanley's out-of-contract stars. The Conference champions were due to meet for their final training session of the season this morning, with manager John Coleman expected to have mixed news to deliver

  • What a superb time to be a Rover

    IT'S been a great few days to be a Blackburn fan! First, we beat Chelsea to confirm our return to Europe. Then, 24 hours later, comes the news that Mark Hughes has agreed to sign a new deal. If I was John Williams then I'd be making sure I buy a lottery

  • Hughes delighted with contract

    Mark Hughes has expressed his delight at agreeing a new three year contract, which ties him to Blackburn Rovers until 2009. The Welshman ended any speculation about his own future by signalling his intention to put pen to paper earlier this week, and

  • No easy rider!

    A RIBBLE VALLEY businessman is preparing for the bike ride of a lifetime said to be completed by fewer people than have been to the moon. Tim Lawson, owner of East Lancashire energy drink firm Science In Sport, is riding with former football star Geoff

  • Snarling ‘pit bulls’ ran amok

    POLICE came under attack and residents scurried into their homes as two rampaging "American pit bull" dogs ran amok in the streets of Haslingden, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how one of the dogs a male was aggressive, growling and baring

  • Learner driver crashed into pair of cars

    A LEARNER driver who panicked after crashing into a parked car drove around the corner and smashed into another. Blackburn magistrates heard that Irfan Yousaf ran off after being confronted by members of the public. Yousaf, 21, of Whitehead Street,

  • Worst month for A&E targets

    ATTENDANCE at East Lancashire's A&E departments has rocketed by 20,000 people in the last six years, figures show. The increase from 118,582 to 138,690 has been blamed on patients who do not need to be seen at A&E turning up for treatment. The news

  • Police used CS gas to stop father

    A 41-year-old Darwen man ordered to leave his wife's home by police was stopped from driving away by the same officers because they thought he smelled of alcohol. Blackburn magistrates heard that in the course of his arrest the two officers had grappled

  • Straw's tribute to town’s first socialist MP

    BLACKBURN MP Jack Straw has written a tribute to the town's first Socialist MP Philip Snowden who started his career as a Tory "Bogeyman" and ended up branded a Labour traitor. The Foreign Secretary's article will appear in a book on the founders of

  • Police to get tough on transit robberies

    POLICE have warned crooks from Merseyside and Manchester travelling to Lancashire to commit crime: Stay out of our county. The warning was issued as police launched a major crackdown in a bid to reduce the amount of cash in transit robberies. The initiative

  • Junkie stole dying mum’s TV and wheelchair

    A 33-YEAR-OLD addict stole his terminally ill mum's TV set after she refused to lend him money for drugs. And a court heard the son, registered as his mother's carer, used her electric wheelchair to remove the 32 inch TV which he sold for £40. Brian

  • ‘Saddam insult’ sparked knife affray

    A KURD who waved a knife in a Blackburn street disturbance lost his temper after being compared to Saddam Hussain. Such words were a "deadly insult" to Mohammed Oumed. During the incident, in Audley Range, two men were injured. Oumed, 28, formerly

  • Stanley are toast of Cornish pub

    ACCRINGTON Stanley's historic promotion to the Football League has been hailed by a group of enthusiastic supporters hundreds of miles away in Cornwall. Mike Riley, 45, said his pub, the Victoria Inn, in Pensilva, near Liskeard, had adopted Stanley

  • Drink driver had no insurance

    A drink driver was caught after pulling out in front of an off-duty military police officer. Ramunas Budvytis, 29, of Fleet Street, Nelson, was breath tested and the reading was 101 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath the legal limit

  • Baby survives 15ft plunge

    A BABY boy escaped with minor injuries after falling out of a first floor window. The one-year-old baby plunged to the ground in Montague Street, Blackburn, at 3.40pm yesterday. He suffered a dislocated shoulder and dislocated wrist, and was taken to

  • Park friends in support plea

    The Friends of Ashton Park are overseeing a £25,000 transformation of the park to improve the area and modernise play equipment and seating. But to qualify for extra cash, the group needs to set up a Friends support group involving people giving their

  • Fall in crime boosts town

    DARWEN police today said the future of the town was bright after a 17.5 per cent drop in crime over the past year. The positive message from Inspector Andrea Bradbury came just days after it was revealed that the town had one of the fastest rising rates

  • Labour bucks trend to hang on to Blackburn

    LABOUR bucked the national trend in the Blackburn with Darwen elections to cling on to control of the council. Labour now only has a majority of two, as the far-right England First Party (EFP) gained two seats for the first time. Blackburn MP and Foreign

  • Straw 'spat at' in street

    BLACKBURN MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was allegedly spat at while out canvassing yesterday. The incident happened at 3pm at the polling station at St Silas Church of England Primary School, St Silas Road, when a political opponent allegedly spat

  • Tories keep control of Hyndburn

    CONTROL of Hyndburn Council has remained in the hands of the Conservatives, who increased their majority over Labour from just one seat to four. It was a night of mixed fortunes for both parties with the Tories gaining two seats from the opposition

  • Birthday Attic is the place to be

    ONE of East Lancashire's busiest venues celebrates its first birthday in style on Saturday May 6. The Attic on Warner Street, Accrington, regularly stages gigs on Friday and Saturday nights and has become a showcase venue for local bands and those from

  • Cherrybomb

    ANY band which covers songs by artists as diverse as the Arctic Monkeys and Andy Williams has to be worth going to see. Offering such an unusual set list, combined with a lively stage show, has led to Cherrybomb becoming one of the most in-demand covers

  • Kyla thinks outside the Brox

    SHE'S wowed audiences at the Bank Holiday blues festivals and now Kyla Brox is to headline her own show at Colne Muni on May 12. Kyla has been singing live since she was 12 when she sang with her father's band, The Victor Brox Blues Band. Since then

  • Rock on Tommy

    AUSSIE guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel returns to Burnley Mechanics on May 8. Described by many as one of the greatest guitar players alive Tommy is a household name in his home country and played at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in 2000. He

  • Life is more important than football

    Very few things worry me in life. I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night contemplating whether I will still look cool when I'm bald. I may give a passing thought on the odd occasion as to the importance of eating enough fibre. I have even been

  • No logic to new drinking laws

    THE Government has decided, in its wisdom, that warning signs are to be displayed on all alcoholic drinks and outside premises that sell alcohol. Is this not the same Government that only six months ago brought in new legislation allowing licensed premises

  • Why can’t binmen be more flexible?

    I AM in total agreement with the letter from Mr G Howard of Padiham about the attitude of some of our binmen. I also had the same problem regarding the sack for used newspapers etc. They emptied the sack one week and so far as I know did not leave

  • We don’t want a new tower!

    DARWEN Tower has been impressing local residents since it was opened on September 22, 1898. P A Madden's suggestion to knock it down and replace it with something modern should be treated with much derision. It was built to celebrate Queen Victoria's

  • Burnley: Queen Street Mill Textile Museum

    Queen Street Mill is famous for those interested in the history of cotton. When I visited I spoke to Mr Varley, the spinning manager, whose family were in cotton for almost a century. He told me why the mill is so unique. It is the only steam-powered

  • The Magician (15)

    Scott Ryan is the writer, director and scarily magnetic star of new Australian hitman flick, The Magician, which is out on May 5. I interviewed him with some trepidation. He is, after all, almost entirely responsible for the creation of Ray Shoesmith

  • Nelsen battles through the pain

    BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes has revealed Ryan Nelsen suffered a hairline fracture of his fibula during last week's win at Charlton Athletic - but still played on through the pain barrier! The New Zealand international got injured as a result of a first

  • New boy Jones impressed by Cotterill

    CLARETS' new signing Steve Jones said it was the influence of manager Steve Cotterill that persuaded him to make the switch to Turf Moor. Jones, who is set to sign a three-year deal after rejecting a new contract at Crewe, said he was impressed what

  • £14k pledge for spy cameras

    WHITWORTH has moved a step closer to becoming one of the first towns in the country to hide CCTV cameras in advertising boards. The news comes after the Lancashire Local Innovation Fund and Whitworth Town Council pledged to contribute almost £14,000

  • Arts festival’s accent on families

    A CHILDREN'S Arts Festival is being planned for the summer to encourage children and their families to take part in creative workshops to learn new skills. Rossendale Leisure Trust and Rossendale Arts Alliance, a group of local artists, have teamed up

  • Prostitution conviction number 5

    A "desperate" Burnley drug addict clocked up her fifth conviction for prostitution after police arrested her in the early hours. Burnley Magistrates heard how Michelle Hodgson, 24, was seen "looking for business" in Briercliffe Road, Duke Bar, in the

  • Teenage arsonist strikes four times

    AN arsonist who has struck four times in two days was being hunted by police today. In the latest attack, a vintage Ford Popular, which was being restored, was severely damaged after a blaze in Thursfield Road, Burnley, at around 8pm yesterday. And

  • Every Street – the movie

    YOUNGSTERS in Nelson are to take part in a special project to film the flagship make-over of a street of terrace homes. Adactus Housing, based in Manchester, plans to turn a terrace of seven 19th-century homes in Every Street into five, converting two

  • Move is set for post office

    BARROWFORD Post Office is set to move into the nearby Spar shop. The facility will stop trading from its current location in Gisburn Road at 12.30pm on June 17 and will re-open again on June 26 inside the convenience store at Fountain Square. A Post

  • Pendle Borough Council local election results

    2006 election results for Pendle Borough Council. BARROWFORD Jonathan Eyre (Con) 740 Christine Stables (Lab) 185 Allan Vickerman (Lib Dem) 712 Turnout 41.67 per cent Con gain BOULSWORTH Jillian Gaynor Allanson (Lab) 123 Thomas Franklynn Boocock

  • Patterson drops Anchor

    MARK PATTERSON has resigned as caretaker manager of Darwen after learning the job was to be advertised. The former Blackburn Rovers midfielder quit after chairman, Kevin Henry, told him about his intentions to throw the position open. Patterson said

  • Peters, 49, set to play again

    BACUP boss Brent Peters could don his boots again as a packed end-of-season fixture list bites deep into his squad. No less then seven of his players are out or doubtful for the trip to Alsager, after playing nine games in 18 days. So the 49-year-old

  • Striker boosted by England call-up

    PAUL Mullin believes an England selection would be the perfect way to cap a successful season. The 32-year-old received his first call-up to the National Game XI squad for their Four Nations Tournament at the end of the month, along with Reds midfielder

  • Hyde exit is a shock, but trust in Steve

    WELL, the Clarets' re-building process has already begun and I have to say I'm a little surprised. I knew Steve Cotterill would have to shift some players out to bring some new personnel in and to see the names Gifton Noel-Williams, Duane Courtney and

  • Rovers chief plots Euro campaign

    BLACKBURN Rovers are determined to exorcise the ghosts of the past and make a real impact in Europe next season. That's the message coming from chairman John Williams, who saw nine months of hard work come to a glorious conclusion earlier this week

  • Hughes makes front man his top priority

    BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes has made the recruitment of a new striker his top priority this summer as he begins planning for next season. Hughes is determined to boost his firepower in preparation for an assault on Europe next season, and he has already

  • Hospital phones demand

    EAST Lancashire MP Nigel Evans has backed a parliamentary campaign to allow the use of mobile phones in hospitals. Mr Evans said the use of mobiles should only be prohibited in areas where they can interfere with medical equipment, rather than the current

  • Ex-Rovers youth broke into flat

    A TEENAGER once on the books of Blackburn Rovers took part in a random, drink-fuelled burglary, a court heard. Liam Holt, 19, told police he, and another person, had broken into the flat, before stealing property. He left behind a clue at the scene

  • Cash fears of man cleared of killing

    A GREAT Harwood man who served 18 years in prison for a double murder he did not commit fears he could see his compensation cut by the government for the second time. Peter Fell, 43, was released from prison five years ago after Appeal Court judges

  • Cherie backs £1m appeal

    A RISHTON charity has launched its appeal to raise £1million at a champagne reception hosted by the Prime Minister's wife Cherie Blair at 10 Downing Street. Lords House Farm, a specialist centre working with disabled and disadvantaged adults and children

  • Rap for the BBC

    Hyndbuen MP Greg Pope today criticised the BBC for seeking a large increase in the licence fee while paying inflated salaries to some of its presenters. Mr Pope said: "The BBC licence fee is in danger of becoming a poll tax on television and I am far

  • Cash aid for firm

    A BLACKBURN engineering firm has been given the chance to compete with overseas markets thanks to a grant. Precision Polymer Engineering Ltd, of Greenbank Road, has been awarded a grant for an undisclosed sum from the North West Development Agency, designed

  • Gang of hoodies in car-wrecking orgy

    "RAMPAGING" youths in hoodies have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in a 30-minute spree of vandalism. Car wing mirrors and windscreen wipers were ripped from vehicles and shop windows were smashed by a gang of around 20 yobs down Shear Brow

  • Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council local election results

    2006 election results for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. AUDLEY Salim Lorgat (Lib) 1271 Tahir Mahmood (Lab) 1090 Turnout 43.75 per cent Lib gain from Lab BASTWELL Sajid Ali (Lib) 1530 Iftakhar Hussain (Lab) 1031 Beverley Anne Law-Riding

  • Hyndburn Borough Council local election results

    2006 election results for Hyndburn Borough Council. CLAYTON-LE-MOORS Nicholas Collingridge (Ind) 553 Tim O'Kane (Lab) 459 Philip Storey (Con) 369 Turnout 39.56per cent Ind gain HUNCOAT Paul Gott (Lab) 593 Kathleen Pratt (Con) 503 Turnout

  • Litterbug faces £370,000 fine

    AN ex-postmistress is facing fines of £370,000 after being convicted of illegally dumping rubbish. Prosecutors said Kauser Waquar, former owner and postmistress of Cog Lane sub-post office, Burnley, turned herself in yesterday after a warrant was issued

  • ‘Offensive remark’ Euro MP resigns

    A Lancashire MEP has resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats in Europe after telling a Jewish constituent: "I hope you enjoy wallowing in your own filth." Chris Davies last night apologised in a statement, saying he should never have used those words

  • 'Racist' party grabs seats

    ONE of the most right wing political parties in Britain last night recorded a startling success in Blackburn. The England First Party won seats in the Meadowhead and Fernhurst wards and one of the victorious candidates is party leader Mark Cotterill.

  • Accrington: Kashmir Takeaway

    IF Barbie ever opens a takeaway it might look like this. The Kashmir is not the place you would want to visit with a headache as its shocking pink decor launches a full-out assault on the senses. Behind the bright decor is a takeaway offering pizzas

  • Comedy review: Mark Steel @ Mechanics. Burnley

    WHY aren't all history teachers like Mark Steel? I learnt more about the French Revolution in the audience of his show last night than I did in three years of history lessons at the hands of Abergele High School's Mr Jenkins. A comedy routine about slavery

  • Telly date for band’s performance

    IF you want to get your mug on the TV you'd better turn up at Colne Muni's Noise Up North gig on May 5. News hot-off-the-press is that headlining act Bashphelt are to be being filmed for C4 music TV show Popworld. The gig features five of the North's

  • Oh brother! Here’s Jake

    JAKE Stigers, brother of jazz singer Curtis Stigers, will be playing Great Harwood on May 13. Stigers will be playing tracks from his album Coming Back Again with his band The Velvet Roots. The gig is part of a UK tour which will also feature a

  • Have faith - she’ll make you laugh

    MUSLIM comedian Shazia Mirza gained notoriety on the stand-up circuit when the world was coming to terms with September 11. See her live in Blackburn on May 6. She would open her act in recognisable hijab dress and begin with the deadpan remark: "My

  • Another good year for music fest

    I'VE been to almost all of the Darwen Live Music Festivals, and I am surprised your reporter has managed to find anything to whinge about. There were thousands of people there last year, and I didn't see, or hear, of any real trouble. I suspect it is

  • Council may be breaking covenant

    I HAVE read with interest over the past weeks the various letters that have passed through the pages of the LET in relation to the Lewis Textile Museum. I would like to add an avenue of investigation for the people of Blackburn. As the museum was left

  • Taxpayers pay double for council work

    A FEW weeks ago Pendle Council pulled up all the concrete flags on Livingstone Street, Brierfield, as most were in a poor condition. The whole street was then laid with a new surface, a good job well done, except for the fact it held water and the slope

  • 16 Blocks (12A)

    It's been a while since a good, old-fashioned buddy cop thriller has hit the cinema. Trust Richard Donner, who virtually perfected the genre with Lethal Weapon, to bring it back with a fast-paced twist. Jack Mosley (Bruce Willis) is your typical