CLUBS and hotels who host controversial "black bag" sales should be held responsible if customers are given shoddy goods, according to a trading standards chief. The warning from Lancashire's Chief Trading Standards Officer Jim Potts comes as the number
IN response to your article (LET, December 4) concerning the roadworks at Brownhill roundabout in Blackburn, I have been in business there for 21 years and have never experienced anything quite so frustrating as the present mayhem. Business is suffering
PARAMEDICS struggled in vain to save the life of a 45-year-old man who suffered a heart attack in a phone box as he made an emergency 999 call for help. Devoted father John Green, of Holmbrook Close, Highercroft, Blackburn, had been suffering chest pains
A CLUB has kicked and punched it's way into a record breaking year. Darwen Shin-Gi-Tai kick-boxing club has only been open for two years, but has already scooped several championships under senior instructor Craig McMillan who has coached his members
GIANT Guyanan Roger Harper returns to Bacup next season in the Marsden BS Lancashire League. The former West Indies Test player had no hesitation in accepting Bacup's offer to remain as their pro for an eighth successive season. Everyone at Lanehead is
I WOULD like to take this opportunity to congratulate Coun Derek Brindle on his amazing success with regards to the Darwen Police Station "closure." I am sure he must be very proud of himself for keeping those police officers off our streets at night
NEW England cap Paul Grayson admitted today to being shocked after being called up to play Western Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday week. The 24-year-old Chorley-born outside-half is the nearest thing to a surprise selection on Jack Rowell's team as England
are protests that Princess Diana allegedly got involved in politics - in breach of the tradition that royals should steer clear - when she spoke in support of the young homeless, whose lot could be made harsher by benefit cuts. But such an uproar is shoot-the-messenger
A STAFFING crisis is set to afflict Burnley General Hospital with the expected resignation of a leading specialist. Dr Rodney Emmott is poised to defect to neighbours Blackburn leaving Burnley NHS Trust with only HALF its quota of consultant anaesthetists
A HEALTH chief has pledged that plans for more hospital services to be shared between Blackburn and Burnley will not be drawn up in private. And Ian Woolley said that co-operation between the two hospital trusts was vital for the future of patient care
ALAN Shearer, inevitably it seems, is ready to write even more new chapters in the Ewood history books. The Blackburn Rovers and England striker heads for Highfield Road tomorrow, needing only three more goals to reach a League century for the club. And
HELPING to restore fire-ravaged Windsor Castle is all in a day's work for Blackburn company Grayston White and Sparrow. The crane hire firm was called in to lift newly-made ornamental lintels into one of the state rooms. It was a particularly tricky operation
TIME is running out for East Lancashire 'greenies' who want to enter our Grimewatch challenge. Once again we are on the lookout for the areas' green giants, who have done their bit to help the environment. Whether you have worked as an individual or as
AS a local businessman paying a high rate of council tax for services, which, in my opinion, leave much to be desired, I am most concerned regarding the expenditure of Lancashire County Council in their endeavour to retain the status quo in relation to
A BAN on circuses with wild animals looks set to be dropped by a council following a landmark legal ruling. Town hall chiefs in Hyndburn are recommending councillors lift the blanket ban imposed six years ago. And circus owners have said they are keen
HUSBAND and wife partnership Peter and Ann Shaw celebrated a move to new premises in Preston New Road, Blackburn, with an open evening for clients. The expanding accountancy practice has moved to offices in New Park House from its previous base in Apex
A COMPANY in Blackburn has been accused of "slave labour" after paying two workers less than 60 pence an hour - because they worked too slow! And the two women from Darwen, who were paid £25 for a 42 hour week, today had their plight raised in the House
EURO hero Mike Newell is looking for lift-off in the Premiership when Blackburn Rovers visit bottom of the table Coventry City at Highfield Road tomorrow. Newell, scorer of the fastest Champions' League hat trick in history on Wednesday night, now hopes
PADIHAM received a major employment boost today with news that 90 more jobs are to be created at the Potterton Myson factory. Giant parent group, Blue Circle, say the Wyre Street works will be the company's European centre of excellence for the development
AN ARCTIC blast hit East Lancashire and looked set to stay. Howling winds, biting blizzards and sub-zero temperatures brought the first bitter taste of winter to towns and villages. Gritting teams worked through the night in a bid to keep the roads clear
GANGS of drunken youths went on the rampage in Great Harwood last night, with 70 or 80 teenagers fighting in Towngate. Police reinforcements rushed to the scene from Accrington and Blackburn to help the local force in their efforts to stamp out trouble
NOW that we are approaching the nail-biting climax of 'Telly Addicts,' showing on BBC-1 on Mondays at 7pm, we are already thinking about the next one - and this is where readers come in. If they would like to take part in next year's series I'd love to
SUE, Moira and Valerie would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the East Lancashire Hospice Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 2, which raised the magnificent sum of £1,563 which included £500 from the raffle. It has been impossible
THE SHOCKING fact that a pair of workers at a Blackburn firm were paid less than 60p an hour is a monstrous scandal in itself. And Scrooge employers Starlight Garments fully deserve the odium heaped on them with our disclosure and with the public condemnation
GREETING cards to mail order gift company Fine Art Developments has reported an increase in pre-tax profits in its interim report. Pre-tax profits rose seven per cent to £6.2 million which is good news for its East Lancashire workforce, largely employed
GREGGS, the Manchester-based bakers, are to invest £500,000 in refurbishing 10 of its 97 shops in the New Year. The complete list of shops to be given a new image has not been finalised but a spokesman said the Darwen bakers could be on the list. The
A FAR-EASTERN message of support will help stand-by conductor Valerie Eastham when she steps into her husband's shoes. Well-known local music man James Eastham, has been called away at short notice to conduct music examinations in Hong Kong. So he is
AN appeal to raise cash for terminally-ill youngster Amy Allan has rocketed to success. In less than three weeks the appeal has raised a staggering £2,500 to help buy equipment for two-year-old Amy who is suffering from the extremely rare brain disorder
YOUNG roving reporters went out to deliver more than 1,000 community newsletters highlighting vandalism and social problems in the area around their school. And within ten minutes of delivery, a new reader contacted a member of staff at St James Primary
TRADE president Ian Lang has promised Lancashire MPs that the government will battle hard to bring more work from the Eurofighter project to the county. He told them that the futuristic warplane was the most important aerospace project in Lancashire and
A HEALTH chief believes that a looming recruitment crisis in a hospital casualty department could lead to a BETTER service for patients. Ian Woolley said plans to employ nurse practitioners to counter the chronic shortage of junior doctors could be the
YOUNG gun Chris Brass will be told by manager Jimmy Mullen: "Carry on against Chesterfield." Brass is likely to get the nod at Turf Moor tomorrow after assured performances in the right back berth against Crewe in the Auto Windscreens Shield and the 2
