A woman was seriously sexually assaulted before being locked in a garden shed by a burglar who used her cash cards to steal her money. The 51-year-old victim was asleep at her home in Clayton-le-Moors in the early hours of this morning when the intruder
A TERRIFIED woman was seriously sexually assaulted before being locked in a garden shed by a burglar who used her cash cards to steal her money. The 51-year-old victim was asleep in her home in Clayton-le-Moors in the early hours of yesterday when
A WAR of words has broken out after three leading Christian churches snubbed an event to bring women together in prayer. The Church of England, Baptist and Methodist churches in Padiham rejected the invitation of the town's Unitarians for the Women's
A PARTYGOER recorded one of Lancashire's hire's highest ever breathalyser readings when he tried to drive after downing a bottle of vodka and four cans of lager. Edward James Idiens was more than five times the limit when he crashed his car on the way
PROPERTY developer The Hurstwood Group is trying to sell a further £4.4million worth of land. Bosses of the Rossendale-based company said they were aiming to raise funds for the purchase of "larger stragetic sites" with the move. Last month we revealed
A PENDLE charity is setting up a mentoring scheme for young people after scooping £250,000 of lottery cash. The mentoring scheme, run by Nelson-based charity SCAFF (The Southfield Community Action Forum), is looking for 15 volunteers to help run the
AN "ECCENTRIC" former councillor appeared in court after a "bizarre" melee outside his home, a court was told. The incident ended with Ian Jeffrey's dog biting a police officer, Burnley magistrates heard. The court was told that Jeffrey, 65, who had
NO CHARGES will be brought over the death of a father-of-two after police said his head injuries were caused in a fall. Officers said they believed Vincent Biriny, 27, had fallen and hit his head on the kerb following a New Year's Eve party in Accrington
THE updated police report for Padiham stated that crime in the town has fallen to an all-time low, according to latest figures. The report, for the period from November 20 to December 19 2007, shows a decrease in all types of crime from the previous
A FORMER Territorial Army soldier who was arrested will not face any charges under the Official Secrets Act, according to his solicitor. Former Clitheroe Royal Grammar School pupil Peter Stephen Hill, 23, was under investigation by MI5 and the Metropolitan
A NEW photo of East Lancashire's most wanted paedophile has been released by police. The picture was taken just after Joshua Karney, 30, was arrested by South Yorkshire police on a disorder charge in November. But he was released after giving a
A DRIVE to raise awareness and tackle so-called honour violence and forced marriages has been launched at a major conference. The crime, which can include beatings, kidnap and even murder in the name of maintaining a family's honour, is a "significant
A COUNCIL employee is preparing to swap the town hall for one of the world's most dangerous war zones. Tom Calver works in Blackburn with Darwen Council's press office - and has spent the past 18 months training to become an RAF reserve officer in his
CAMPAIGNERS have won their battle to move a crime-fighting CCTV camera to a vital junction in Has-lingden. Councillors and residents who form part of the Haslingden, Edenfield and Helmshore neighbourhood forum, run by Rossendale council, were concerned
KEVIN Keegan is to return Newcastle United for a second stint as manager - meaning that Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes will be staying put. Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp turned down the chance to succeed Sam Allardyce at the weekend, intensifying
Andy Payton column YOU have to speculate to accumulate, as the saying goes. And now it's desperately important that we spend to try and make our Premier League dream come true. I've never known a Championship to be as wide open as this one is and
A FAMILY has urged young people to get screened for heart conditions after a teenager died from an undetected abnormality. Darwen Vale High School pupil Rebecca Duxbury, or Becky as she was known, was found dead in her bed at the family home in Lady
Food parcels will be delivered to any Rawtenstall resident turning 80 this year. The Rotary Club of Rossendale will be giving the parcels to anyone who celebrates their birthday between now and December 31 2008. To apply, send your name, address
FAMILY, friends and officials said goodbye to Burnley FC president Dr David Iven. Dr Iven's funeral cortege passed by Turf Moor yesterday along Harry Potts Way en-route to the service at Burnley Crematorium. Dr Iven, whose precise age was not known
Blackburn College has been named as one of the best in the country after Government inspectors deemed it outstanding in every way. The college has achieved the accolade less than four years after Ofsted inspectors found success rates and retention
A HEADTEACHER said that attendance at his school had been boosted after offering prizes to pupils. Shuttleworth College's attendance incentive scheme was launched last summer in a bid to combat truancy. The initiative works by rewarding individuals
Kevin Gallacher column THE search to find the next manager of Newcastle United is starting to feel like an Agatha Christie novel. All of the leading characters in the plot seem to be arriving on the scene at exactly the same time and, by a strange
THE North West Air Ambulance has received a cheque for £500 from Padiham Rotary Club. The club raised over £4,000 during the Christmas period through various events. Padiham Rotary Club Vice President, Mr Paul Wright, said that the rest of the money
AARON McLean loves to play against Accrington Stanley. In his previous four meetings with the Reds, for Peterborough and former club Grays Athletic, the 24-year-old striker had scored three times. He can now extend that to six in five after sharing
FORGET saying "21 again" next time a birthday comes around. Because these days 38 is deemed to be a woman's perfect age. So it's move over Cheryl Cole and co - women think they look most attractive in their 30s, a survey has revealed. The online survey
A COUPLE were left stranded at home after vandals torched their car and the wheelchair which was inside. Mark Stowell's maroon Chevrolet was burnt out by yobs after he had to abandon it on moors near Hapton when he ran out of petrol on Boxing Day. When
COUNCILLORS John Kenyon and Bob Clark are to inspect the Grove Lane area to determine where two bench seats may be placed. The seats are similar to the one directly facing Trevellyan House. Padiham Council will fund the seats.
Rev J Hartley of St Peter's Church in Salesbury is to go on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain in 2009. He has received approval to take time out by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, and St Peter's church council.
Blackburn Rovers have announced another bold ticketing initiative to attract younger fans through the turnstiles. Young supporters who are part of the club's junior membership scheme 'Team Rovers' can watch the game against Middlesbrough on Saturday
SOME tree work has been undertaken on Shuttleworth Street after agreement was made between owners of the adjacent land on the River Calder banks and residents. It was considered that light was being lost from properties due to overgrown trees.
PADIHAM residents will be given the opportunity to inspect plans for an early flood warning system at a public consultation session at Padiham Town Hall on Monday January 21 at 7.00pm. The meeting will be attended by representatives from the Environment
TWO classrooms were damaged by smoke after a fire broke out at Darwen Vale High School this morning. Two fire engines were called to the school in Blackburn Road, Darwen, at 7.58am. A hose reel and ventilation unit was used to put out the flames. No
AN ALLEGED terrorist has denied he sent a poison-filled vodka bottle to a Blackburn councillor 'in revenge' for the death of his son whilst in care. Wayne Cook, 45, described claims that he sent a caustic soda tainted miniature to Corporation Park councillor
TWO more people have been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 19-year old man in Todmorden. Alexander Thomas Holdroyd was stabbed on Wednesday January 9 after he left a kebab shop. Officers arrested two Bradford men, aged 35 and 43, on Tuesday night
BURNLEY manager Owen Coyle has confirmed that none of the un-named trialists at Turf Moor will be offered terms. The trialists took part in yesterday's behind-closed-doors friendly against Crewe but Coyle has decided they would not figure in his long-term
FORMER Blackburn winger Simon Ireland is back on the staff at Rovers - 14 years after he left the club to sign for Mansfield Town. Ireland, who was signed from Huddersfield Town by Kenny Dalglish in 1992, has been appointed as the club's Assistant Academy
COMMUNITY groups say they have been left stranded after the decision to axe a popular venue. St Mary's Hall, Church St, Clitheroe, has been operated by Trinity Community Partnership, but it is understood that it is ending its involve-ment in the centre
PUPILS at Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School, Oswaldtwistle, received a letter of encouragement from Tory party leader David Cameron after they sent letters to politicians as part of a project about renewable energy sources. Mr Cameron wrote:
Aaron Davies was the hat-trick hero as Blackburn Hawks went goal crazy in the English Cup. The local ice hockey aces found their scoring touch in sensational fashion to beat Kingston Jets 9-1 on Sunday night. Davies and Richard Bentham got the scoring
BLACKBURN Hawks shared the spoils in a nailbiting 3-3 Northern League draw with Solway Sharks in front of a large and vocal crowd at Blackburn Arena. The visitors started brightly, but it was the home team who took the lead against the run of play when
THE new 'community arts festival' in Blackburn could cause extra policing problems by clashing with a Blackburn Rovers home game. Council bosses have confirmed at least part of the town centre summer event, which will replace the axed Mela and Arts in
Allan Armer will replace Paul Holdsworth as 1st XI captain of Ribblesdale League side Great Harwood. Ian Howarth takes over the reins of the second team from Lee Dobson with John and Ian Holden in control of the third XI. The club's nets begin later
Blackburn Rovers ladies beat Doncaster Belles 3-2 in the FA Tesco Women's Premier League. Karen Hanson put Rovers in the lead, only for her side to go 2-1 down. But goals from Katie Anderton and Nicola Twohig sealed it.
Demolition has started on Monday 7th January, 2008, and will take approximately 10 weeks and work is being carried out by Scott Demolition. Work has started on the back of the block 52-90a Branch Road. The block 1-39 Crowther Street, is also due for
Rossendale crashed out of the Lancs FA Co-Operative Challenge Trophy last night, despite a spirited performance against Southport. The Stags took the lead through Phil Eastwood in the 10th minute, but Southport replied almost immediately. The scores
OWEN Coyle has revealed the Clarets have made enquiries about three players - and he was hoping to have at least one new signing in time for this week's match against Coventry. Although he was remaining tight-lipped over the identity of his transfer
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes will decide whether to press ahead with a move for striker Valeri Domovchiyski later this week. The Bulgarian Under 21 international has been handed another chance to impress the Blackburn boss after his five-day
A 25 metre stretch of ground in Sunnyhurst Wood has been cordoned off following subsidence. The area is along the north side of the wood above the bandstand on the high level footpath and is believed to have been caused by heavy rainfall last week.
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman has insisted he will come out fighting after the worst defeat of his managerial career - and he hopes his players will do the same. The Reds suffered humiliation at the hands of promotion-chasing Peterborough United
BURNLEY have turned down a seven figure bid from Championship rivals Charlton Athletic for striker Andy Gray. Gray, who has 13 goals to his name this season, has attracted enquiries from a number of clubs during the January transfer window. However
Nick Nunn column Hardly a week goes by without a group of people somewhere in East Lancashire getting extremely upset about dead relatives - or rather the cemetery where their remains are buried. Places where the deceased are supposed to Rest In Peace
Textile maker Herbert Parkinson has donated office blinds, chairs, cushions and beanbags to Youthworks, a community projects charity. Debbie Hall, community liaison co-ordinator for Herbert Parkinson, based at Harvest Mill, Monton Road, Darwen, said
A RETIRED professional footballer pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer. Kevin Hird, 52, is alleged to have hit the officer but, Burnley magistrates were told yesterday, he denies throwing a punch or trapping her leg. Police said the officer
EAST Lancashire's most wanted paedophile has escaped capture after police arrested him - and then let him go without realising who he was. Joshua Karney, 30, was jailed for 15 months in November 2002, for plying a 14-year-old boy with cider and trying
Burnley Wood Mill (Red Rose Plastics),on Oxford Road and Parliament Road, (the one where the chimney was protuding through the roof), was the scene of the "cotton riots." On The 14th May,1878 a mob marched through in a great disorder, to Kay's Mill, as
Blackburn Rovers Reserves' clash against Liverpool has been rearranged for April 7, 7pm kick-off. The match was postponed last week after the pitch at Christie Park, Morecambe, was waterlogged.
THE Parish Share to be paid by St John's Chuch to the Diocese in 2008 has been confirmed at £40,750 which represents an increase of 5.3 per cent. Capitation requests have been received once again from St Christopher's and St Wilfred's schools which will
The Friends of St Johns are holding a Pub Quiz on Friday 1st February at the Victoria Pub. The entry fee is £5 per team (up to 5 members) and the winners will receive half the pot. Round include general knowledge, kids questiosn, spot the staff, tv
THE number of people caught drink driving over Christmas fell - despite police carrying out more than 1,500 extra breath tests. Operation Shepherd, which ran from December 1 to January 6, saw 5,849 tests carried out, an increase of 1,526 on the previous
