A PENSIONER has lost his life savings and been plunged into debt after a fraudster conned him out of £21,000 for worthless home improvements. Vincent Cheetham, 72, took out a loan after being persuaded to spend his £16,000 savings on a series of unfinished
There's virtually no action in the Library Theatre's latest production - just four monologues delivered by three characters over the course of two hours. Undeniably intense, Faith Healer will nevertheless bowl you over with its humour and warmth.
THE controversial new Accrington Academy will stay true to educating local youngsters, according to the project's sponsor. Plans for the scheme, set to replace the existing Moorhead Sports College, are currently undergoing public consultation. The new
A 64-year-old man "sick and tired" of Hallowe'en trick or treaters answered his front door naked to scare the children, a court heard. Burnley magistrates were told that retired William James Andrews' victims, girls aged 14 and 10, were left frightened
A POLICE sergeant has described those behind cannabis factories as "environmental terrorists". Sergeant John Fryer made the comments after seizing 70 cannabis plants in a raid at a terraced house in James Street, Colne. He said that those behind
Clive Lloyd will be signing copies of his new book "Supercat" at Haslingden Cricket Club on Thursday, 8th November at 8pm. Clive captained the West Indies and played for Lancashire and Haslingden....... Clive skippered the West Indies in their heyday
THE community is uniting to remember a mother and her four daughters a year after they were killed in a fire at their home. Caneze Riaz, 39, a tireless community worker, died along with children Sayrah, 16, Sophia, 13, Alicia, 10, and Hannah, aged three
YOUNG Sam Lord is taking pool by storm after landing a knockout blow on his older and more experienced rivals. The teenage potter won the Blackburn Monday Night Pool League singles knockout title - the youngest player to claim the coveted prize. The
A WANNABE soap star who lied to police was spared jail - just hours before she was due to attend an audition for Coronation Street. Justina Skillin, 18, gave her friend's name to officers when she was stopped behind the wheel in Rawtenstall. The former
BUSINESS park bosses have terminated a contract with a car parking firm accused of issuing 'extortionate' tickets. Landlords Bizspace, which contracted car parking services to S&B Parking, on the Lomeshaye Business Village Estate, Nelson, in June, said
A DARWEN trader believes he has come up with a solution to the town centre's traffic problems. The plan by Dave Grogan, owner of Solitaire Fashions, Duckworth Street, has been backed by the Darwen Chamber of Trade and some councillors. But the leader
A PLEA has gone out for community medics to support a vital lifeline service for people in the Rossendale Valley. Rossendale Community First Responders is a voluntary team which is often first to provide emergency assistance until the arrival of paramedics
THE manager of a local junior team says a friendship struck up with an Irish touring side has made a lasting impression. Mark Atkinson, manager of Darwen Rangers Hawks Under 15s, was so impressed by the attitude of Loughside FC, he adopted it himself
LONGSHAW Junior School have again swept the board in the annual Blackburn Primary Schools Cross Country championships. The school retained its overall school title following another superb team performance on the Witton Park course. Longshaw Juniors
RYAN Walsh's stunning double strike gave Premier League newboys Cabin End the prize scalp of local rivals and leaders Rishton The wily Walsh showed his full repertoire of skills for the Knuzden side with a some intelligent link up play, deft passing
AN elderly woman was robbed at knife-point by a new-mum who trapped her in a supermarket toilet cubicle. The 81-year-old was in the toilet at Morrison's in Blackburn town centre, at around 12.30pm today when the woman pulled out a knife and demanded
ROSSENDALE-based developer Hurstwood has released homes for sale on the site of a Rawtenstall landmark. The first batch of three-bedroomed town houses at the Holly Mount House site start from £249,950. The development, off St Mary's Way, will be
A SEX attacker who pounced on an 18-year-old woman as she walked home from her birthday celebrations in Colne has been jailed for four years. Krzysztof Loboda followed the terrified victim and threw her to the ground before covering her mouth to prevent
A POWER firm has welcomed a county council report which has deemed a series of wind turbines - in Rossendale and Todmorden - as visually acceptable. Bosses at Coronation Power want to install three 125-metre high windmills at Reaps Moss, Rossendale.
BLACKBURN have gone top of the North Lancs/Cumbria League thanks to a wonderful second half performance against title-rivals Kirkby Londsale. The Ramsgreave Drive side went in to the game trailing Kirkby on points difference alone but it appeared it
AN interim anti-social behaviour order has been made against a man described in court as a "drunken nuisance." Blackburn magistrates heard that John Bailey, 41, had been involved in 24 incidents in a two-month period, some resulting in criminal charges
A GANG of youths caused mayhem in a quiet street after driving a stolen car in to a dead end. Lancashire Police's helicopter and a dog unit were scrambled to hunt for the two boys and two girls after the vehicle crashed in Hapton. The Fiat Punto demolished
Family Race Night 03/11/07 Rishton Utd U16's begin raising money for the end of season trip abroad, tickets cost £2.00 this entitles you to two free bets, you can even sponsor a race for the night. For further details contact Dale McVarish 882650
Tucked away in a neglected corner of Lancashire lies the hidden gem of the town of Darwen ... Known mostly for the internationally well known Darwen Tower, a beacon to fell walkers from miles around who come to view all they survey from this
BURNLEY council has scooped a top community award following innovative efforts to engage people in the town's future. The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) granted the council the award for Community Engagement in the Planning Process' as a result
Blackburn Rovers are set to be without Robbie Savage until the middle of December. The midfielder has undergone knee surgery and manager Mark Hughes confirmed he faces between five and six weeks on the sidelines. "It's a blow, obviously," the Rovers
TOWNELEY Hall could be one of the most haunted buildings in the country, according to a popular TV programme. Most Haunted Live spent an evening at Towneley Hall on Monday as part of the run up to Hallowe'en. And the producers said it was one of the
THIS is the face of the man who indecently assaulted a woman on her way home from a night out. Police, who believe the man mistook his victim for a prostitute in Blackburn town centre, have used computer technology to help the woman recreate his face
THE captain of a ladies town bowls team fears it may have to fold unless in can recruit new players. Jackie Boardman has warned that the Blackburn Inter Town team will pull out of the Lancashire Ladies Bowls League next month if they fail to attract
AN opportunist thief with a "horrendous" record was jailed for stealing a mobile phone. But a district judge went along with a request from defence solicitor Jonathan Taylor to pass a sentence that would allow Keiran Chatburn to spend Christmas with
TWO men became involved in a fight outside a Whalley nightclub after words had been exchanged inside. Blackburn magistrates heard that as one of the men was grabbed from behind by his arms by a third person, Dale Fielding continued to punch him repeatedly
Most residents and people involved with community enterprises in and around the Burnley Wood area will know the name Brian Fenn. Until his recent passing, Brian was the 'backbone' of Burnley Wood Community Action Group. I spoke to Jeff Sumner today
TEMPORARY signs will go up before dawn tomorrow to direct patients through the A&E revolution in East Lancashire. All of the 19 signs currently pointing people to the accident and emergency department at Burnley General Hospital will be replaced with
A Hallowe'en survey claims that Lancashire is the most haunted spot in the UK. 89% of people in the region said they have had, or have heard first hand of, a spooky experience in their home. Legal & General quizzed 4,282 adults for the survey.
AS winter draws in, the Meningitis Trust is warning people to watch out for the signs and symptoms of this life-threatening disease. Every year there is an increase in cases of meningitis over the winter months. The early symptoms of meningitis
AN extensive upgrade programme is set to get the green light at a Burnley children's home. Works at The Haven, Brunshaw Road, will include a new entrance porch to the two-storey building, a new outside patio and a bark path around the eastern end of
PRIVATE firms could take over care for adults with learning disabilities in an attempt to bring services up to scratch. East Lancashire PCT has invited tenders to take over Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley's supported living service after
BLACKBURN and Darwen residents are bring urged not to let Christmas drive them into debt. With only eight weeks to go, Blackburn with Darwen Council's advice service, the Jubilee Tower Credit Union and the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) are offering free
IF pure energy was the key to success, The Pigeon Detectives would be sitting even higher up the indie tree. The frontman of the Leeds five-piece, Matt Bowman, leaps around the stage; the band hammers out high octane tunes; and the die-hard fans jump
PITY those who turned up five minutes late for Burnley's home game against Norwich last Tuesday. By the time they took their seats they had to endure a bitterly cold Turf Moor evening, saddled with the knowledge that they had missed the game's defining
ROSSENDALE United boss Derek is hoping to come out on top in tonight's Presidents Cup derby clash with Clitheroe at Dark Lane. He said: "Games with Clitheroe are usually good. "It's a local derby and they tend to be red-blooded matches!" Tonight's
CHORLEY manager Gerry Luczka is threatening to wield the axe after the Magpies slumped to second from bottom in the UniBond First Division North following Saturday's 5-1 thrashing at Clitheroe. "I can't accept the kind of performance. We were found wanting
BURNLEY'S latest publication, The Clarets Chronicles: The Definitive History of Burnley Football Club', goes on sale next month. The 592-page hardback book, which details every season from 1882-2007, will be available for the first time to pre-subscribers
A 16-year-old girl was raped twice at her home by a man she had met after a night on the town, a court heard. Burnley Crown Court was told how Thomas Mitchell, who had shared a taxi with the teenager after she lost her friends, followed her into the
BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Robbie Savage has been ruled out for a month after he damaged his medial knee ligaments during Sunday's 2-1 win at Spurs. The former Welsh international, who only recently returned to action after six months out with a broken
What's in a name? Quite soon it will be Remembrance Sunday. This year it actually falls on November 11th. What does it mean to us as we move towards the end of the first decade of the 21st Century? Although known as Bill, I am William George Taylor.
It's Prorogation this morning - the bit of flummery that ends the present session of Parliament. Like the State Opening it takes place in the Lords since the Queen is supposed to come and do it, and ever since the time of Charles I the monarch has not
A SPECIAL charter train has been run between Colne and Skipton. The Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) ran the trip to highlight its campaign to restore the 11.5 mile missing link between the two towns. A direct rail route would
TRAMPOLINE owners are being warned to fix them to the ground - or risk injury, damage or even death. Unless the popular garden toys are attached to the ground, there is a danger of them flying away and wreaking havoc. The warnings come from Supertramp
A CONVICTED paedophile has been found guilty of stabbing his girlfriend to death and burying her in a cellar where she lay undet-ected for eight years. And the daughter of former Bacup woman Dorothy Carre, 56, branded Frederick Lawlor a "cruel, sadistic
HOW I enjoyed Helen Mead's column on her fears of losing her teeth. Let me allay her anxiety. I required dentures (full set) because of receding gums when aged 37, 30 years ago. Today dentists do not remove natural teeth completely but a few at a time
REGARDING Mr Marsden's letter about the Victorian gentleman'. Myself and a pal of mine used to go for a drink on Friday and Saturday nights, and he once turned up in the Foresters Arms on Fecit Brow. He was quietly spoken and very polite and when asked
ON visiting the Royal Blackburn Hospital over the past five days to see a friend, I was disappointed to see staff, patients and visitors clearly flouting the rules of non-smoking in the hospital grounds. The large sign at the entrance clearly states
I WRITE in reply to L Yates' point about smoking on stage and the use of artificial cigarettes (Letters, October 23). Blackburn Drama Club has a supply of artificial cigarettes, and they have been used in previous plays. However in the case of Abigail's
IN A Premiership weekend where the elite reminded us that the top four still regard themselves as something of a permanent fixture I regard it significant that Rovers moved up to fifth place and within a whisker of at least temporarily disturbing the
EDENFIELD Village Pre-School impressed Ofsted inspectors. The playgroup is based within Edenfield Methodist Church while repairs are carried out at its permanent base of Edenfield Community Centre. Quality and standards of the care and nursery education
A FARM worker who was crushed by a bale of hay could be home in time for Christmas. Robert Field, 21, of Cornfield Grove, Burnley, broke his back and jaw and had his left leg amputated after an accident at Shuttleworth House Farm, Hapton, on September
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 48-year-old woman was knocked over when a group of youths attempted to snatch her dog. The woman was walking with her Staffordshire bull terrier at 9.30am on Saturday along Bird Street at the corner of Sefton
A PROPOSED £100million racecourse has been delayed by six months - but the man spearheading the plans has insisted that key talks will be held this year. Lawrence Mark Dundas, the fourth Marquess of Zetland, is leading the consortium behind the
WORK has begun on resurfacing an abandoned road near a primary school with the help of a £60,000 grant. Jaucourt Street, off Princess Street, Accrington, does not fall under the jurisdiction of any councils. It had become riddled with potholes and
A WOMAN has been honoured at a ceremony to thank the region's most dedicated blood donors. Joan Driver, 62, from Colne, collected an award at a ceremony at Lancashire Cricket Club, for donating blood seventy-five times. The retired housekeeper began
A DISABILITY charity has received a £5,000 boost to fund therapy for disabled children. Lords House Farm, Rishton, is a specialist centre which provides a range of therapeutic activities using animals and the natural environment, catering particularly
WORK has started on a new children's centre at Huncoat Primary School. The centre, which is expected to be completed by February, will offer provision for the community, including young mums and babies who can go there for playgroups and health visits
POLICE are to be based at fire stations in a bid to prevent attacks on firefighters in the bonfire night period. Police have launched the crackdown in anticipation of the annual rise in the number of firefighters obstructed, abused or attacked. And
A BUSINESSMAN "disgusted" by thieves who stole a boy's bike after he broke both his arms is giving him a brand new BMX. Shane Starkie's mum said that her faith in people had been restored after Paul Bury, owner of a Blackburn BMX and skateboard shop,
THE Lancashire Telegraph today launches a campaign in a drive to help revitalise Darwen. The key aim of 'We're Backing Darwen' is the creation of a town council for Darwen to create a stronger identity and increase inward investment. The new council
TRADERS and councillors feel that one area which could be improved to boost the town is Darwen's Christmas lights display. While last year Blackburn had Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson, a huge fireworks display and music concert, Darwen had a lower-key
THE Lancashire Telegraph has launched a weekly surgery in Darwen. And residents in the town are being urged to come and get to know our Darwen reporters and get them working for you. Every Monday between 9.30am and 12.30pm one of our Nafeesa Shan and
THE last shopping study into Darwen took place in 2005. Manchester-based firm Savills was appointed to investigate both Darwen and Blackburn centres. Savills found that Darwen was strong in the food retail sector, but that non-food sales had been in
YOUNG drivers are being urged to take care on dark roads now that the clocks have gone back. And a leading road charity has called on the government to fall in line with the Central European Time zone in a bid to slash the number of crashes taking
Everyone really enjoyed our school's Eid Party before half term All the children and staff would to thank the mums from the Asian community who provided snacks and their time to help make the party such a big success. Many children (and staff) went
TRIPS to Underhill in the recent past have for the most part proved to be an enjoyable experience for the travelling Stanley fan. This year, however, the Stanley faithful made the trip down to north London with some trepidation as Barnet have made a
IF Blackburn Rovers succeed in breaking into the Premier League's top four this season then it will rank as a bigger achievement than winning the title in 1995. That's the view of former Ewood favourite, Tim Sherwood, who is better qualified than most
Volunteers are needed to join Great Harwood PROSPECTS Panel in their latest venture....... The group will be returning to Edge End Wood from 10am - 3pm on Saturday 10th November to take part in a little more woodland maintenance. Tasks will include
JUDGES have praised a young dancer after she took part in the grand final of a national freestyle competition. Nicola O'Brien, 13, wowed the crowd with her routine, narrowly missing out on the top prize in one of the toughest and biggest under-18 freestyle
WHEN I was a lot younger and obviously a lot more innocent I honestly thought people went into politics because they wanted to change things, to help other people and assist the country to be a better place. Now, quite a lot of MPs are professional
A COUNCILLOR who is defecting to the For Darwen Party failed to win a vote to become chair of the planning committee. Coun Paul Browne was put forward after the resignation of Coun Jean Rigby at the last council meeting. It came after Coun Browne
BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill believes all that is missing from Wade Elliott's game is a goal. The winger, who scored four last season - bettering the previous year by a goal, has been unlucky not to have already broken his personal deadlock this term
I DON'T know if it's just me, but the idea of one of opera's greatest voices releasing a greatest hits album just seems inappropriate. There is no denying Bocelli's talent but the tracks appear to have been chosen for a non classical audience and with
TWO Lancashire greats have slammed former England coach Duncan Fletcher after comments about Andrew Flintoff in his new book. Fletcher, whose book "Behind the Shades" is being serialised by a national newspaper, has slammed Flintoff for his conduct on
EIGHT men have been charged with supplying Class A drugs after a series of early-morning raids. Over 70 officers from across the county carried out the raids at six houses in Blackburn yesterday. Drugs, worth thousands of pounds including crack cocaine
THE first wave of a new state-of-the-art jet fighter, part of which is made in Lancashire, has been completed. BAE Systems has completed production of the first batch of 53 Eurofighter Typhoon, called Tranche 1, which had been ordered by the Royal Air
Alison Leonard and Katie Ingram have been selected to represent the North of England at the Tilburg Waranderloop International Cross Country on November 10/11. In Belgium, Ingram will run in the senior race while Leonard will compete in the U20s. Ingram
JIMMY Bell insists Accrington Stanley boast their best ever squad since he's been part of the club's management team. John Coleman's number two points to the amount of fit players that failed to make Stanley's squad for Saturday's 2-2 League Two draw
TWO talented young athletes from East Lancashire and their coaches were treated to hands-on mentoring and advice from double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes at an On Camp with Kelly' get-together weekend at the University of Bath. Laura Finucane of
DARWEN'S new manager Wayne Watkins is relishing the chance to take on unbeaten New Mills following Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Ashton Athletic - the first since he took charge. "It's not just how you handle yourself after victories it's how you handle defeats
ACCRINGTON Stanley chairman Eric Whalley believes the Reds can repeat history by dumping Huddersfield Town out of the FA Cup. Four years ago, Stanley produced one of their greatest ever FA Cup shocks with a 1-0 win over the Terriers at the same stage
