SAM Allardyce's son - Darwen-based Craig Allardyce - has followed his father into the world of football management. The 32-year-old has took on a joint-manager role at Bolton-based Turton in the West Lancashire League, a club that Craig once represented
A CONVICTED child sex offender who travelled to Thailand and got a job teaching children has insisted: "I'm doing nothing wrong". Alan Smith, 53, formerly of Carter Street, Accrington, was jailed for sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in August
THOUSANDS of people turned out in the bitter cold tonight to see the firework display at Blackburn Cathedral and join in the Lancashire Telegraph carol service. The streets around the cathedral were blocked by police as families gathered around in
ARMED robbers escaped with jewellery and watches after terrifying staff and customers in a town centre shop. Three men wearing dark clothes and balaclavas went into Ancient and Modern jewellers, New Market Street, Blackburn, at about 4.15pm today. And
BURNLEY captain Steven Caldwell played his first game for almost two months yesterday and scored as the Clarets drew 1-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Bolton Wanderers. The central defender has been sidelined with a thigh tendon injury since
A BANNED driver who told a court four members of his family had died in a car crash has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Police said they had "reason to believe" that the crash had not taken place after information about
ACCRINGTON'S Steve Johnson has clinched the SD34 Championship for the second year in succession. And the Accrington Motorsport Club member said this victory was even sweeter. Johnson, who has had three co-drivers sitting alongside him in the shape of
ELEVEN puppies have been left orphaned for Christmas after being dumped in a cardboard box when they were just four weeks old. The puppies were handed in to the front desk of Accrington police station by someone who said they had been found near the
A New Year's Eve Party is being held at St Thomas's Church Hall, Helmshore on December 31st from 7.30pm till late. There will be a disco, games and a buffet supper. Children are free and adults £3.50. Contact 01706 831473 0r 01706 231984 for more details
If you fancy some excellent brass band festive music, the Haslingden & Helmshore Band will be entertaining shoppers on Saturday, December 22nd at Rawtenstall Market.
THE headteacher of a troubled Burnley school has moved to reassure parents after an outbreak of violence between pupils. Headteacher Gill Broom has spoken for the first time about last Friday's violence, which saw Ayaaz Darr, 16, and Amanat Yousaf, attacked
A WOULD-be legal executive who used cloned mobile top-up cards to try and fill a "super-charged" Range Rover with petrol was spared custody. Burnley Crown Court heard how father-of-one Asif Khan, 26, claimed a friend had asked him to take part in the
A TERRIFIED grandmother had a tooth knocked out as she was kicked and punched repeatedly by a mugger. Jean South was attacked in the toilets of a fast food restaurant after a trip to Manchester for some Christmas shopping. The 52-year-old of Broadfield
A man driving home from work had his car attacked as he stopped at traffic lights in Blackburn. The town's magistrates heard that James Stephen Lucas kicked the car for no reason and then he thumped the windscreen so hard it cracked. But venting his
RECYCLING firm bosses want to be able to reuse more materials brought to their operation at the former Hapton Colliery site. Managers of Enviro Skips, based at the old Hapton Valley pit, currently recycle about 70 per cent of the waste collected in their
A RAIDER who "lost his nerve" in an armed robbery on a jeweller's shop has failed to overturn an indefinite sentence. However the minimum term on Clark Townsend, from Accrington, was reduced by 12 months to two-and-a-half years by Court of Appeal judges
A BUSINESSMAN from Burnley who became despondent over the return of his gambling addiction took his own life, an inquest heard. The family of Andrew Jones, 37, believed he had conquered his gambling demons, Burnley Coroner's Court was told. Some 18
VITAL operations at the Royal Blackburn Hospital have been cancelled because of a bed shortage. Up to 20 patients were turned away from the hospital when they went for operations this week and were told there were no beds available because of emergency
PEOPLE looking to make a fresh start in the New Year are being offered the chance to begin anew with churches in Pendle. Churches in Pendleside will host the Alpha Course, a 10-week introduction to the Christian faith which has been running for a number
WHAT better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by watching the sky light up with a fantastic firework display and then singing some Christmas carols? The Lancashire Telegraph Christmas Carol Service takes place at Blackburn Cathedral following
There are lots of Sauvignon Blancs but there is only one Cloudy Bay - and there's a reason for that. However much you complain about pricing and marketing hype, New Zealand's finest from the Marlborough region is the Premiership champion of dry whites
Well, it is Christmas and here's the first of two wines that break through normal price barriers - but are more than a bit special. It's from the St Chinian appellation in Languedoc region of southern France. The grapes are 100 per cent Syrah or
I am sad to report that since July 2007, there has been a significant increase in vehicle crime, shed breaks and the theft of garden ornaments. Although offences have occurred both during the day and night, the bulk of them tend to take place overnight
BOWLING greens in Burnley and Padiham will not be axed following a town hall review, says the borough council's leader. Coun Gordon Birtwistle has denied there were ever any specific proposals put forward to rip up local greens, principally those at
A campaign to target those who drive whilst using a mobile phone has been hailed a success. Throughout September, police officers were out in force at hotspots in the Ribble Valley. They also checked that drivers and passengers were wearing their
THE trial of a charity worker accused of raping orphans has started in Albania before he has even been extradited, according to his lawyer. The move has been blasted as illegal by lawyer Steve Law, who is representing Blackburn man Dino Christodoulou
A lot of Rosegrove senior citizens recieved a surprise this week when they received nice food parcels which were kindly donated from the Life church based on Sycamore Avenue.
A NEW tourist kiosk in Colne will boost Pendle's visitor industry and create jobs, according to councillors. The Discover Pendle Centre, which will be located on the new Bound-ary Mill car park, will have an online booking facility, a video display screen
SHOPPERS and traders are calling for flowers to be returned to Darwen market square. Tiered flower tubs were moved from outside the town hall and outdoor market buildings a year ago when redevelopment work on the market square began - and council bosses
CHILDREN in East Lancashire schools were invited to email their Christmas thoughts for an online competition. Lancashire County Council ran the competition to find out what Christmas meant to children today. The winning message by 10-year-old Alex McCann
THE January sales can't come soon enough for Burnley. Injuries and suspensions have prompted a midfield and defensive crisis and really highlighted how small our squad is. I've been saying for about a year that we need big investment in the playing
CHRISTMAS is a tough time of the year for footballers. They want to spend as much time as they can with their families but they can't because of the busy festive schedule. They have to watch what they eat and drink and travel up and down the country
ALMOST a quarter of a council's employees have been told their salaries are to be cut. The decision was broken to staff by email after Blackburn with Darwen Council bosses gave the green light to its new pay scale. Some workers are reporting drops of
A LIBERAL Democrat councillor has stepped down from his position on a charity board after claiming he was unhappy at the way it was run. Coun Allan Knox, Liberal Democrat leader on Ribble Valley Council, resigned from the board at the Trinity Community
Local rock band Mining Castro has reached the Top 10 in the XFM Rock School competition. The four sixth-form students from Turton High School had been shortlisted for the final of the Manchester-based radio station's talent quest. The boys, who are
HEALTH chiefs have advised patients to attend Burnley General Hospital for most medical mishaps over Christmas. The warning came as a large number of sufferers have been travelling for emergency treatment to Blackburn instead. As a result, Burnley's
BLACKBURN ROVERS player David Bentley left shoppers star-struck when he called into a charity shop to help out in the run-up to Christmas. The England international visited the Blackburn Scope shop to lend a hand to the volunteers. The shop was
CHILDREN at St Edward's Primary School and Earcroft children's centre sang at a special lunch for their parents, grandparents and carers yesterday. The celebration in the community cafe at Earcroft, is another step in the developing relationship between
A LITHUANIAN man left fighting for his life after being stabbed has admitted to police that the injuries were self-inflicted, according to officers. The 26-year-old man, who was injured in Bishop Street, Nelson, is suffering from depression after losing
A woman who celebrated her 40th birthday earlier this week has admitted a £15,000 benefit fraud and been bailed pending the preparation of background reports. Andrea East, of Whitehaven Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to three charges of dishonestly
A 53-year-old Blackburn man who denied a money laundering charge will face trial next year. Andrew Akeroyd, of Kinglsey Close, appeared at Preston Crown court and pleaded not guilty to a charge of concealing, disguising, converting and transferring criminal
ROSSENDALE Council has pledged to improve and protect the environment. Plans for a draft policy were discussed during a meeting of the cabinet last week. The policy commits the council to complying with environmental legislation and codes of practice
A NURSE got behind the wheel more than three times the drink drive limit, a court heard. Burnley magistrates heard Janet Cronshaw, 48, went out without thinking after work to have a drink and had learned a "salutory lesson" from her conduct. She had
IF anyone epitomises the new regime at Turf Moor then it is Jon Harley. The experienced defender is enjoying a new lease of life under Owen Coyle and has started every game since the Scot took charge at Turf Moor last month. Harley, a virtual ever present
If you need to contact us, call 0845 1 25 35 45. If you need any advice or assistance you can leave a non-urgent message on my Voicemail 01254 353017 or contact PCSO Nigel Williams on 07743 891163. If you need to speak with an officer immediate,
A DRUNKEN father-of-two who beat up his wife turned on her 10-year-old son after the child tried to intervene, a court was told. Engineer Philip Taylor, 26, had started his "prolonged and vicious" assault on wife Claire by hitting her with a frozen
CAR owners are urged to be vigilant after a spate of damage in Darwen. Vandals have damaged wing mirrors on more than 20 vehicles in the Sudellside, Olive Lane and London Terrace areas in recent months. Police are investigating and CCTV equipment has
St John's Church is hoping to raise a team for the St Cuthbert's quiz in aid of the hospice in the new year. Entries must be in by the January 8. Teams will consist of three named players plus one reserve. You can register with Pam on 01282 436002.
It's official, the Ribble Valley continues to be the safest place in the North West of England to live. Not only that, it's also in the top 20 safest places in the country to live. So far this year, crime in the Ribble Valley is down by 24.4% compared
ACTOR and comedian Paddy McGuinness was born in 1973 in Farnworth, near Bolton. After working as a waiter, warehouse worker, lifeguard and holiday rep, he appeared in That Peter Kay Thing, Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere. He lives
SHELL-SHOCKED Burnley manager Owen Coyle is facing FOUR games without Joey Gudjonsson, after the midfielder's appeal for Saturday's sending off against Preston was overturned. The Iceland international was given a mandatory three-match ban for being
A MAN who turned up at a shop armed with a stick and assaulted the assistant had sentence adjourned for medical reports. Burnley magistrates had heard Akbar Shah, 25, had been calling out for the victim's brother, waved the stick violently and headbutted
ROQUE Santa Cruz must be wondering what he has to do to pick up a win bonus. For the second time in four days, the Paraguayan international dragged Blackburn Rovers back from the brink of an embarrassing defeat, only to then see his team-mates shoot
Comedian Phil Walker is back in Blackburn, which can mean only one thing - it's panto time. We spoke to the man who has put the sparkle into King George's Hall's Christmas panto for six years running. "I GOT my script through the post the other day.
Sitting in his dressing room chair before the curtain call, Shane Richie is getting a glimpse of what the future holds as he plays a man old enough to be his father in the role of Scrooge this Christmas. "IT scares me looking in the mirror after makeup
A pensioner awaiting sentence for a catalogue of sex offences years ago was re-bailed until Dec 21. Gerald Greenwood, 72, was due to be sentenced on Monday, but the hearing was adjourned for medical reports after Burnley Crown Court heard the defendant
Parish council chairman Tony Lambert said that it does not appear to be practical to fly the St George's flag all year round from the Worsthorne Reading Rooms. His investigations have revealed that it would cost a significant amount, and the flagpole
A man who attacked a Longridge pub doorman with a bottle has been jailed for two years. Preston Crown Court heard that Peter Hayhurst, 29, should not have been at the Dog Inn in any event as he was barred from the premises and others in the district
The one crumb of comfort for Blackburn Rovers in their defeat against Arsenal was the performance of Roque Santa Cruz. The Paraguayan, fresh from his hat-trick at Wigan, took his tally to five goals in two games. However, once again, his heroics were
A TRAGIC alcoholic who got hooked on booze when he discovered his dad's home brew is lurching from the gutter to prison in an alcoholic haze. Blackburn magistrates were told that John Bailey first tasted alcohol before he left school when he climbed
BURNLEY Reserves entertain Manchester City Reserves tonight. The match takes place at Accrington Stanley's Fraser Eagle Stadium and kick-off is 7pm.
JIMMY Carr has won the inaugural Lancashire Telegraph Trophy for the best live performance at East Lancashire's first comedy festival. The comedian was the unanimous choice of the judges for the award and he also topped the online vote from Lancashire
Yes, winter and cold, dark mornings can be depressing. But this week as we approach Christmas you might think most people would be full of optimism and eager anticipation even if they were feeling hassled and stressed by last-minute shopping, planning
POLICE are treating the baseball bat attack at Hameldon Community College as a racist incident, it has been revealed. Since the incident on Friday officers had said it was not racially motivated. But officers said that since the weekend they have
AN international furniture company has been hailed as Good Employer of the Year for its dedication to helping disabled people in the workplace. GGI Office Furniture UK, based in Global Way, Darwen, won the award at the first Independent Living Awards
Rishton Utd U16's recently recieved new Rain Jackets which were kindly funded by J C H Tufting and B & M Building Merchants
A MAN who has celebrated 100 Christmases claims to have never seen a flake of snow fall on December 25. A white Christmas, the theme of thousands of festive cards, isn't a scene that Fred Gee, who turns 100 on Christmas Eve, can recall. And the former
Rosegrove library held their storytime event this week it was well attended by children and adults,also in the afternoon mince pies and coffee were on offer.
MARK Hughes has warned his players they have to get better defensively after another horror show cost them dearly against Arsenal last night. Four days after crashing 5-3 to Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium, Rovers' defensive failings came back to haunt
Blackburn Hawks maintained their unbeaten League run, in a hard-fought 2-2 draw with the Billingham Bombers at the Arena. In a cagey opening period, both teams tried to stamp their authority on the game, working the opposing keepers with some industrious
Burnley boss Owen Coyle has been linked with moves for Dundee United midfielder Barry Robson and Celtic striker Derek Riordan. However, he played down speculation ahead of the transfer window opening in 13 days time. "Particularly in Scotland there's
Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty and midfielder Chris McCann will attend a special signing session at the Clarets Store tomorrow from 4.30pm. The Clarets duo will spend around an hour signing purchases from the Turf Moor store, including copies of The Clarets
ACCRINGTON Stanley assistant manager Jimmy Bell is predicting a busy January when the transfer window opens. With Stanley sitting comfortably in the middle of the League Two table ahead of Saturday's home game against Shrewsbury, Bell said he thought
MAY I express my disgust with the fans of Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas. Their derision of the American national anthem was appalling. I wanted a Hatton victory but, by your behaviour, you got your just deserts. The people and the country welcomed your
I SEE Liverpool Football Club are quick to offer protection for players' homes. Which is easy when it means the fans will be paying because the club derives its income from them. Mind you, I don't suppose the players can afford to protect their own
I TOTALLY agree (LT, December 6) with R Crane saying Darwen's never been such a mess, and is no surprise that the For Darwen party was set up. It took the retiring chief executive to admit mistakes were made to the Blackburn town centre in the 60s,
WITH regards to, and in support of, Councillor Johnson's comments and all previous remarks on the subject of the new bins. I happen to be a Rovers fan, but I have friends and colleagues who support, amongst others, Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Sheffield
A DISUSED building in Blackburn shopping centre is having its interior taken apart ahead of demolition work. Builders are removing parts that can be reused, including escalators and lift shafts, from the former TJ Hughes building. Underground telephone
A PLASTIC-wrapped press release sent out in a huge cardboard Christmas box by the Environment Agency has been slammed as 'astonishingly wasteful'. The red boxes, decorated with gift ribbon and containing a single, three-page document, were sent out to
Arsene Wenger paid tribute to his young guns' mental fortitude after they claimed a thrilling 3-2 extra-time victory at Blackburn to march into the Carling Cup semi-finals. Croatia striker Eduardo struck his second goal of the game in the 104th minute
A SMOKE alarm probably "saved the lives" of a mother and son who escaped a kitchen blaze last night. Heavy smoke spread through the terraced property in Garnett Street, Barrowford at 12.40am after the grill was accidentally left switched on. Fire crews
