A TERRIFIED disabled man was kicked to the floor and had hearing aids ripped from his ears by robbers who struck on a secluded path. Paul Tokarski, 37, who suffers from cerebral palsy, has asthma and is deaf, was attacked and had his MP3 music player
THIS month, 550 soldiers from the 1st Battalion of The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment fly out to war-torn Iraq for a six-month peacekeeping tour. The troops, which include recruits from Blackburn, Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn and Pendle, will initially be
KEY organisers of Blackburn's annual Mela are furious at not being told about council plans to replace it. Last night Blackburn with Darwen's ruling coalition approved plans to merge the Mela and Arts in the Park events into a two-day 'community arts
HEALTH bosses are considering adding fluoride to East Lancashire's water to combat poor dental health. The recommendation has come after a review into oral health throughout the area has revealed that rates of severe dental problems in children have
PARTY fever gripped Burnley as thousands gathered to banish the November blues and kickstart the town's countdown to Christmas tonight. Granada TV star Paul Crone, aided by star-for-the-day Ellie Wilson, aged eight, from Nelson, sank the plunger to bathe
HUNDREDS braved the cold and watched the show as Blackburn's Christmas lights were switched on. Star guest Michael le Vell, who plays Kevin Webster in Coronation Street turned on the lights, after a night of entertainment outside the town hall. It included
There will be a Table Top Sale at Hillside Nursery School, Helmshore on Saturday, 17th November from 10am - 1pm. Price of admission is 20p and there will be a cafe and tombola stall. To book a table the price is £5.00. Contact 01706 214162.
Spring Terrace WMC (Haslingden Road) are holding a charity event in aid of Multiple Sclerosis sufferers. It will take place on Sunday, November 25th between 2pm and 6pm. Local 5 piece band "Rusty" will be performing and everyone is welcome to support
A WOMAN posing as a home help made off with £100 after offering to go and buy a pensioner some sugar. The 89-year-old male victim let the woman into his home in Limefield Court, Blackburn, at 5.30pm on Monday. She made him a coffee but said he had no
The article below is in a Wigan newspaper today. The lady mentioned is a very good friend of mine and Homer is/was the brother to our dog Mushu. We all need to take care when allowing our children and dogs to go swimming/paddling in open water courses
A CHEF said he feared for his life after being subjected to a "vicious unprovoked assault" as he walked home from work. Michael Lucas suffers from a painful, rare condition and said the agony after a blow to the side of his face was so severe that he
A CHEF said he feared for his life after being subjected to a "vicious unprovoked assault" as he walked home from work. Michael Lucas suffers from a painful, rare condition and said that the agony after a blow to the side of his face was so severe
A BOY cannot remember the fatal road accident which killed his father, according to his family. Aiden Halstead, eight, is sitting up in his hospital bed and chatting to visitors, but his family fear he will be brain damaged. But his aunt, Anne Patten
BURNLEY have had an approach to speak to Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws turned down. Laws has strong links with the Clarets, after beginning his playing career at Turf Moor - becoming a full-time professional on his 18th birthday in 1979.
A PAEDOPHILE has been found guilty of a total of five rapes and 19 sex assaults on three girls. Ian Greenall, 42, of Hillside, Burnley, faces a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted by a jury at Burnley Crown Court yesterday. Jurors took nearly
A 36-year-old Blackburn man said to have psychiatric issues "flipped" when he felt an elderly lady had insulted his aunt at her pub. Blackburn magistrates heard that Christopher Hughes threatened the lady and then launched an unprovoked attack on his
A SCHOOL is to complain formally to Ofsted after inspectors said it was failing to perform as well as it should. Woodhey High School, Bolton Road West, Ramsbottom, got a "notice to improve" after an inspection in October. But the headteacher of Woodhey
A RAFT of changes to town centre parking in Pendle are being proposed after a review by councillors. But they have ruled out introducing parking charges - for now. The review was carried out by councillors George Adam, Tony Beckett, Martin Bell, Gary
AN EAST Lancashire MP has hit out over the Government's handling of immigration figures. Nigel Evans, who represents the Ribble Valley, has criticised the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith over allegations that she concealed the fact that thousands of illegal
OVER 16,000 residents in Hyndburn are being asked to take part in a major survey to help shape the development of new homes. The survey, being completed on behalf of Hyndburn Council, aims to collect details about people's housing needs and aspirations
TWO masked men were thwarted by alert security guards as they attempted a robbery outside an off-licence. The incident happened outside The Local, in Whalley Road, Accrington, at around 1.30pm yesterday. Police believe that two men, thought to be wearing
LANCASHIRE'S elite fighting force has made the grade for a new version of the children's card game Top Trumps. Ever since the 1970s, youngsters have been able to compare statistics about everything from cars and warships to FHM models. Now though, in
A DISABLED man was attacked and robbed as he made his way to work in Accrington. The 37-year-old man was attacked as he walked along the cycle track between Mount Street and Manchester Road between 6am and 6.30am on Tuesday. He was approached by four
CHILDREN are designing their own safety posters as part of a campaign to tackle 'illegal and dangerous' parking outside primary schools. The initiative, devised by Darwen Neighbourhood Policing Team, is aimed at preventing motorists stopping illegally
BLACKBURN ROVERS midfielder David Bentley has told England boss Steve McClaren: 'Play me against Austria and I won't let you down'. The 23-year-old wide-man, who has been in scintillating form for Rovers so far this season, is desperate for the chance
YOUNGSTERS from the Mill Hill and Whitebirk Youth Inclusion Programme, in Blackburn, are showcasing their craftsmanship by making Christmas decorations. The hand-made decorations will be sold at a speciality Christmas market to be held in the town, with
Paul Ince has ruled himself out of any vacant managerial positions, including Burnley and Preston North End, insisting he is at League Two leaders MK Dons "for the long term". The former England and Manchester United midfielder's name has been linked
MIKE Newell's bid to become the next manager of Burnley could be scuppered by the former Luton boss's impending court case. Newell is in the process of suing his former employers, claiming unfair dismissal. He was sacked after publicly questioning where
A CYCLIST from Rawtenstall is fighting for his life after being involved in a road accident in Burnley. The 44-year-old was riding along the A646 New Road, Burnley, when he was involved in an collision with a blue Toyota Avensis at the junction with
SUPPORT has poured in from politicians for the campaign to re-open the 11.5 mile Colne to Skipton railway. Skipton- East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) has received letters of support from almost 90 MPs including former Liberal Democrat
ONE of Blackburn most famous businesses could be with a winding up order after a supplier claimed it has not been paid. However, Marilyn Rigby, owner of Tommy Ball's shoe shop, claimed the matter has now been resolved and the company, based in
THE trial of a Blackburn man charged with sex assaults on three of his colleagues has been adjourned. Trevor Wright, 47, of Heron Close, appeared at Preston Crown Court earlier this month when he denied nine charges of indecent assault, sexual assault
BLACKBURN ROVERS midfielder Steven Reid received a welcome boost last night when a scan on his injured hamstring appeared to rule out any serious damage. Reid felt pain in his hamstring during the first half of Tuesday night's reserve match with Liverpool
MP Janet Anderson is leading calls for councillors to reject moves to close four "vital" community centres. A council-commissioned review has proposes the closure of Ivy Street, Little Harwood and Shadsworth centres in Blackburn and Sudellside in Darwen
HAPTON co-driver Daniel Barritt is hoping for the luck of the Irish this weekend. But he fears the weather might put a dampener on the occasion. Fresh from his first recce of what has been described as the most important motorsport event ever held in
The free telephone number you can use to send us news tips, pictures and videos has changed. You can now send your SMS text messages or MMS photo and video messages to 80360, starting your message with the code BLPIC. So if you're out and about
A SUSPECT from Manchester has appeared in court in connection with a £60,000 raid on a Tesco Express store in Burnley. David Bennett, 29, of Waterton Avenue, Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne, appeared before Burnley magistrates in custody yesterday. Bennett
A banned driver who told police his name was Peter was caught out after his friends said: "Mick, we're off", a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how Michael Ganley, 40, was promptly arrested - and has now clocked up 14 convictions for getting
A CLAMPDOWN on alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour has been launched by police in the run up to Christmas. Operation Shepherd, which will run until the New Year, will also promote personal safety, fire safety and keeping property and possessions
TWO takeaways were targeted by thieves. A burglar attempted to break in to the rear of Panda Express, Duckworth Street, Darwen, at 4.40pm on Sunday but was foiled. The following day a burglar gained access via the rear of Yummy Yummy, Blackburn Road
BLACKBURN Rovers chairman John Williams has called for the introduction of a sin-bin in the Premier League in the wake of David Dunn's sending off at Manchester United on Sunday. Williams feels too many matches at the top level are being ruined by needless
THIS year's SD34 Championship is set to go right down to the wire. With only two rounds left, Accrington's Steve Johnson is leading by just a single point from Dave Blackburn. The Melbourne Airfield Stages, organised by Bolton-le-Moors car club is the
Staff at Sainsbury's, Burnley, and Age Concern volunteers have been knitting little woolly hats to sit on top of Innoncent Smoothie bottles. For every one sold, the supermarket and the fruit juice maker will donate 25p to the charity.
Police are investigating a spate of vandal attacks in the Cambridge Drive area of Padiham. A post box was wrecked and damage to a wall at the bottom of Cambridge Drive together with other recent incidents have been reported.
Mrs Dorothy Birks, a member of St Leonard's Church hosted her annual coffee and mince pie morning, raising £500 for the church development fund. Mrs Birks would like to thank all who supported the event.
IN 1941 a German aircraft dropped a land mine in Ramsbottom, causing extensive damage to homes, but happily no casualties. We wonder if any residents can recollect the explosion, or have any stories of the Second World War. The bomb hit properties in
LAST week's page told the story of the Brierfield father and son who took the train to beat a travel record, back in 1966. Today, we can say that mill overlooker John Duerden and his 17-year-old son, also John, completed their attempt, on track. For
On June 30, 1966, one month before England won the World Cup, the Mackenzie Medical Institute was opened in the grounds of Burnley General Hospital. Performing the ceremony was Lord Amulree, nephew of Sir James Mackenzie, the Victorian Burnley GP who
GRAHAM Branch has urged the Burnley board to take a gamble on Steve Davis. Although experienced managers such as Joe Royle and Peter Reid have been linked with the vacant manager's post at Turf Moor, Branch believes the man the suits are looking for
A BRIERFIELD woman could have fallen to her death down the stairs of her home while sleepwalking, an inquest heard. Dorothy Burrows, 68, had previously suffered episodes of sleepwalking, and on one occasion had woken up to find herself in a spare room
Pendleside Hospice and Rosehill Post Office are encouraging people to lighten their purses and pockets and dig down the backs of their sofas for loose change. Organisers of the Penny Trail Appeal hope to collect enough pennies to complete a trail from
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy sent a few text messages - and won a scooter. Sam Shields, from Read, deputy head boy at Mount Carmel School, Accrington, was researching scooters ahead of his 16th birthday in July. He found a website called getagrip.uk.com a Harrogate-based
WAITING list-busting private operations for NHS patients have got under way - more than two months late. Outpatients for orthopaedic and general surgery can now choose to have their appointments at private hospitals in Chorley, Preston or Gisburn, under
BUDDING entrepreneurs in Burnley are being urged to follow in the footsteps of a successful sandwich emporium which has raced out of the blocks. With the backing of Burnley Enterprise, The Pit Stop, in Padiham Road, has had a turbo-charged first 12 months
A COUNCILLOR has cancelled next month's surgery due to ill health. Coun Julie Slater, Conservative member for East Rural ward, cannot hold her surgery on December 1. She hopes to return for her surgery on January 5. While she recovers, Fernhurst councillors
OGANISERS of next year's North West Stages Rally are promising the toughest event ever. Final plans are being put in place by Motorsport (North West) Ltd for the route, which contains over 80 stage miles with around 120 road miles. And there is also
LANCASHIRE chairman Jack Simmons insists new captain Stuart Law is the right man to take the club forward despite his advancing years. At the club's general committee meeting on Tuesday evening, 39-year-old Law was seen as the perfect choice to succeed
TEN-man Burnley battled bravely but suffered their second Pontins' Holidays League West defeat. The visistors started the brighter of the two young line-ups and took the lead just after the half-hour, when goalkeeper Jonathan Sergeant spilled the ball
THE Burnley board stepped up their search for Steve Cotterill's replacement yesterday by holding their first block of interviews, with more expected to be conducted today. Former Oldham, Everton, Manchester City and Ipswich boss Joe Royle was heavily
THREE men have now been arrested in connection with a burglary at a power substation. The substation, North Road, Blackburn, experienced two electric flash explosions in the early hours of Wednesday morning after equipment inside was tampered with, police
A BUILDING which has become known as a "blot on the landscape" is to be demolished to make way for homes for elderly people. The Abraham Ormerod Centre, in Todmorden, has stood empty since the late 1980s when a new health centre was built in Rose Street
A 61-year-old man has been charged with the attempted murder of his wife at her home on a Gisburn caravan park. Allan Murgatroyd, of St Clarence Court, Pendle Street, Barrowford, is alleged to have attacked his wife, Linda, with a knife as she returned
THE head of St Bede's RC High School paid tribute to staff and students at his last prize evening. John Challoner will retire from the Blackburn school at the end of the year, and at last night's event, he spoke of his pride in what the school had achieved
A WOMAN who has worked for more than a decade to help children affected by a nuclear disaster has been to Buckingham Palace to receive her MBE from the Queen. Olwyn Keogh set up the Friends of Chernobyl's Children 12 years ago in Wilpshire, and was recognised
A FORMER Lancashire police chief has been tipped to take over if Sir Ian Blair is forced to resign over the shooting of innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes. Paul Stephenson, who headed the Lancashire Police force for three years, is tipped by
Claire Kirkham, a teacher at Crompton House School in Shaw, Oldham is organising a 10K race and 4K Family Fun Run from the school on Sunday, December 16. The Crompton House Christmas Cracker will raise money for Claire to take 12 pupils to Kenya for
THERE was something missing about late October and early November this year. I couldn't quite put my finger on it for a while - after all it's easier to notice something unusual that has happened, rather than something that hasn't happened. It was Blackburn's
A FORMER miner in the pits of Yorkshire is appealing to old Lancashire colleagues for help with his hobby. Bill Bennett, who worked underground for 33 years and is now retired, collects colliery checks or tallies. These are brass discs, usually embossed
LET's get straight to the facts - the Mela event in Blackburn catered predominantly for the Islamic communities in Blackburn, whereas the Arts in the Park events catered for the predominantly white-based communities in Blackburn. Why is it now, after
DISGRACEFUL is not too strong a word to describe the Royal Mail's new advertising campaign, employing a gaggle of so-called celebrities and pop singers to extol the virtues of its "services" and then to call it the People's Post Office. Words fail me
FANS of theatre and variety may be able to help Looking Back this week. For we've been asked if anyone remembers, has stories of or, more importantly, a programme, posters or photographs of a former all-girl dancing troupe called the Winstanley Babes
IN reporting the news, (LT, November 10) that the annual Arts in the Park and Mela are to merge into one town centre festival in Blackburn, the story asserted this has been widely condemned by members of the Asian community'. Only two councillors were
THIS week we recall the best days in the life of George Alderson, as a pupil of Accrington Grammar School. He has sent in this photo of form 2A, 1949/50, taken in the school playground when it was in Blackburn Road. Their form master, at the rear, was
INDIA Mill in Darwen has been described as one of the most important remaining buildings from the textile industry in the north west. Built between 1859 and 1871 by cotton spinners Eccles Shorrock & Co, the building includes a 303ft-high Italian campanile
Rossendale Harriers' best ever runner Dave Lewis made a surprise appearance at Towneley Park, Burnley for the second round of the Mid Lancs Cross Country League on Saturday. Lewis showed that he has lost none of that competitive edge as he was first
An investigation is underway following the death of a BAE Systems navigator during an air test over Norfolk. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the man left the Tornado aircraft during an "inverted roll" on a routine test flight over Norfolk. A spokesman
LAST Thursday, the first Partnership Orienteering Festival of 07/08 took place at Alkincoates Park in Colne. With the help of Pendle Forest Orienteering Club, 99 Year 8 pupils from all seven Pendle Secondary Schools had an opportunity to experience orienteering
Peter Kay is quite rightly regarded as a national comedy treasure. From his live stand up to his hilarious portrayal of life in a northern club in Phoenix Nights, the Bolton-born comic has kept us in fits of laughter. He's also has released chart-topping
A man was robbed of his mobile phone by three teenagers early this morning. The assault happened outside Burnley Fire station at 2.40am. The man required hospital treatment but was not seriously injured.
FIVE local athletes will receive National Lottery funding during 2008 as they enter the final phase of their preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing. Nationally, a total of 234 will receive support across all levels of the World Class
LANCASHIRE cricket manager Mike Watkinson was pleased with the appointment of Stuart Law as captain and is relishing working with the Aussie batsman. Watkinson said: "I'm really looking forward to it. "Having chatted to Stuey about how he wants to take
PERFECTIONIST Stuart Law revealed he will take on a 'Captain Grumpy' role as he strives to end Lancashire's wait for the County Championship - a trophy he describes as the club's holy grail. Veteran Law yesterday succeeded Mark Chilton as the new Red
