A COUNCIL'S new standards watchdog has been asked to investigate claims made in a Labour Party election leaflet over a proposed "by-pass" through a residential area. Liberal election agent Tony Greaves has asked Pendle Council's chief executive Stephen
LANCASHIRE has one of the highest level of arson attacks in the country, according to official statistics. There were more than 2,500 fires which were deliberately started in the county in 1997 while no other shire county got over 2,000. The figures were
BODY-BUILDERS from across the world could be flexing their muscles in an East Lancashire town within two years if plans to hold an international contest become reality. Talks are under way with senior representatives from body-building associations in
EDUCATION chiefs at Blackburn with Darwen Council were today accused of killing community feeling within a popular secondary school by allocating places to pupils who live miles away. Secretary of the parent teacher association at Blackburn's Pleckgate
A POLICE officer whose job is to liaise with the ethnic community is determined to make the force's pioneering recruitment drive a success. Inspector Andy Pratt is the officer in charge of the Minorities Group for Blackburn and the surrounding towns.
FURIOUS parents today vowed to fight the reorganisation of special schools in Blackburn to the bitter end. Education chiefs have completed a review of special schools in the borough and propose the closure of the primary department at Crosshill School
A DISUSED hospital will be given a new lease of life as a single-sex boarding school by a group of Islamic scholars, it was revealed today. Park Lee Hospital, Blackburn, has been sold to a board of trustees for £360,000. Chairman of Lancashire Council
ME/CFS Support Group meet Wilpshire Methodist Church, Blackburn, 7.30pm. Bell Ringing, St Silas Church, Blackburn, 8pm. Samba Night with fancy dress, raffles etc., Savannas, Darwen Town Centre, 7.30pm. In aid of Deborah Murphy. Nature Ramble, Roman Road
THREE Colne players, including professional Joe Scuderi, are expected to appear before a Lancashire League disciplinary hearing next month, following "incidents" in the game at Enfield on May 8. Gary Laycock and Nick Moulding are the other Colne players
BBC Timewatch is looking for German prisoners of war who stayed in Britain after the Second World War and settled here. Also, local people who remember the reaction to them during and after the war, and people who worked at the local PoW camp. Please
AMID the row over allocating high school places to pupils who live miles away and refusing them to ones living close by, education chiefs at Blackburn with Darwen deny they are engaged in social engineering and say such things as "feeder" primary schools
JOHN Twissell stared into his crystal ball this week and predicted a bright future for his shop assistant Daniel Preedy. Preedy is one of three assistant's who help out in the Clitheroe pro shop and Twissell is tipping the Lancashire B team player for
DID you attend Shadsworth High School in Blackburn? Were you a 5th-year pupil between September 1974 and July 1975? If the answer is yes, please read on... As our first reunion was so successful, (more than 50 people turned up), we are holding another
NICK Dougherty plans to add the Lancashire Amateur title to an already impressive CV when the 1999 championships get underway at Ormskirk tomorrow. The Shaw Hill starlet is back on the domestic scene after spending the winter in America. And he hopes
THE National Meningitis Trust would like to thank readers for their generous support of our National Coffee Morning held in March, which has almost reached its target of raising £150,000. Second, the Trust was delighted to have a record 300 runners in
FORMER Ramsbottom pro Chris Harris was ready for a real World Cup baptism against Australia at Cardiff today. Harris, who spent three seasons at Acre Bottom between 1995-7, was part of the Kiwi side which made it's Cup bow with a comprehensive victory
I RECENTLY wrote to the Planning Department of Blackburn with Darwen Council to request permission to replace my existing pre-cast concrete garage with a brick-built one of exactly the same size and in exactly same position. I received a reply that I
HEALTH bosses are putting on a spread to attract nurses to join Burnley Health Trust's mental health teams. In a new recruitment drive, hospital chiefs are organising two social evenings for qualified mental health nurses who are interested in returning
WE have sent the following petition to all five East Lancashire MPs with a request for their signature. After an open debate among staff and students at Blackburn College, some felt that voices should be heard as media coverage of opposition to NATO action
AMBITIOUS plans have been unveiled for a £250,000 community centre to serve the village of Cliviger. The RACA Backers - Recreation Area Cliviger Appeal - worked for four years to develop a former Lancashire County Highways site off Park Road into an attractive
A LAW student started impersonating a police officer after being burgled, a court heard. Damon Kay, 21, drove to a moorland road where he had heard clandestine activities took place and checked on cars and driver documentation. Kay, also known as Dominic
FIVE primary schools in Burnley could close because falling birth rates have slashed pupil numbers, says Lancashire county schools boss Councillor Tony Martin. Coun Martin, chairman of the county schools and general purposes committee said the town had
Food News, with Amanda Killelea SUMMER is almost here and most barbecue owners have already taken advantage of the fine weather to enjoy that charcoal grill taste. But if the good weather is here to stay barbecue chefs will have to dream up some more
A MAJOR expansion programme is leading to more than 30 new jobs at an engineering firm. Chadfort Engineering of Blackburn is involved in a major investment in new equipment following a £600,000 spend last year. Around £550,000 is being invested over the
HOSPITAL chiefs have launched a "think tank" initiative to encourage more Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale people to attend health meetings. Burnley health trust has embraced Government guidelines calling for more public involvement at meetings which decide
A MAN robbed at knifepoint in a Pendle park has described how a blade was held to his throat while the attacker demanded his cash. "I was petrified," said Shane Blackburn, 26, of Surrey Road, Nelson. "I've not been able to sleep properly since and I'm
PROPOSALS to change the face of Colne town centre have been unveiled to allow local people to have their say. An exhibition is under way at the town hall to outline plans to re-shape the centre to help relieve traffic gridlock in and around the town.
A CHIP shop owner today told how he tackled a blaze just moments before an explosion ripped steel ducting from the back wall of the building. Les Scott was lucky to escape when a cooking range at his Cemetery Chippy, Keighley Road, Colne, burst into flames
IT was heralded as a great day for Lancashire cricket. No, it wasn't the day that John Crawley reached double figures in this season's championship. And it clearly wasn't the day that Lancashire decided to embrace next season's divisional structure by
BLACKPOOL are stepping up their chase for released Clarets midfielder Mark Ford. Ford confirmed that a couple of clubs are interested in his services. And Blackpool are believed to be heading the queue. The Seasiders' assistant manager Mick Hennigan is
STEPHANE Henchoz's anticipated departure from Ewood Park looks like being delayed - by surgery to solve the groin injury which plagued him during the second half of the season. A target for Liverpool and also believed to be on the wanted list of several
A MOTORCYCLIST covered less than 200 metres on his final, fatal journey before crashing into a churchyard wall. An inquest heard that mechanic Stephen Harrison, 26, of George Street, Clitheroe, lost control of his powerful machine as he overtook friends
On a seaming pitch at Liverpool, Lancashire were soon in trouble after being put in. The Dutch bowlers exploited the conditions perfectly to take early wickets. Although Lancashire recovered from 8-2 and 37-4 they were dismissed for 122 in 49.2 overs,
THREE Norden High School of Rishton pupils claimed a convincing team win in the North District final of the GHS 10-mile competition for riders under the age of 16 years. Held on the Garstang course on Saturday afternoon, Jon Steer was second fastest overall
PNE 0 (agg 2-1) DAVID Moyes was "bitterly disappointed" after plucky Preston failed to make it to Wembley last night. Moyes, who may have managed North End for the last time, watched his team come out second best despite dominating the play off second
BOLTON gave their fans reason for heart failure last night before finally securing a place at Wembley in the Division One promotion play offs. In a titanic tussle with Ipswich, Wanderers won through on the away goals rule, leaving Colin Todd lost for
BRITAIN'S biggest cycle race, the Prutour begins on Sunday when 18 teams of six top racing cyclists will take to the roads around Westminster in central London for the first stage of the week-long event. Monday takes the massive organisation to Portsmouth
I FEEL very sorry for the Kosovan refugees, but I fail to understand why the closed old people's homes in Blackburn can now be opened to accommodate these unfortunate people (LET, May 12). When they were closed it was said they were too expensive to run
AS THE controversial proposals to shake up special schools in Blackburn and Darwen are now set to be decided, one question that the review has left unclear is why such sweeping change is deemed necessary at all. For the upshot of this plan will have real
WANTING a new summer skirt for a recent holiday, I bought a floral one from Marks and Spencers, renowned for quality. It was very nice. However, when about to wash it for the first time, I noticed on the label inside: 'Made In Romania.' I'm sure the cost
THE address of a defendant was not given in court at Burnley because of other proceedings in Northern Ireland. Trevor George Murphy, 31, had previously pleaded guilty to the theft of a bottle of whisky at the Asda store in Rochdale and driving a car while
THE Lancashire men's team, comprising three Clayton Harriers and one Todmorden Harrier, took fourth position in the Inter Counties Fell Racing Championship on Saturday. Ian Greenwood answered a late call from the selectors to earn his first Lancashire
LANCASHIRE coach Dav Whatmore today backed John Crawley to escape from the worst spell of his career. The Old Trafford captain has nosedived from the top of the English batting charts, which he headed last year, to rock bottom with just 45 runs in six
A TOWN centre community aims to forge closer links with police to drive out fear of intimidation. The Albert Street Residents' Association, Burnley, will hold a public meeting with community officers next month to voice neighbourhood concerns and iron
IN DIVISION A of the Hyndburn Woolwich League, there was no change at the top as none of the first three teams played. Ozzy Hardcores look odds on to finish fourth after doing the double over Rishton Rebels. Daniel Gorton was player of the match, beating
BURNLEY MP Peter Pike is urging the Government to provide Lancashire County Council with more money for bridge strengthening. He is concerned that many key road bridges in East Lancashire are now crumbling. And he has stepped up his efforts following
AFTER being promoted last season, PENDLE AC had been expecting a hard year in Division Three of the Northern Men's League. How- ever, they opened their campaign in style at Carlisle, finishing second to Barrow and with two teams gaining promotion at the
HEROIN user Paul Wilkinson began shoplifting again to feed his addiction only a short time after serving a six month prison sentence for similar offences. Wilkinson, 29, of Austin Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to two charges of shoplifting at Asda and
AS an animal lover and a regular viewer of 'Pet Rescue' and any other programme concerning animals, I am appalled at the numbers of unwanted dogs and cats which are pregnant when they are brought into rescue centres throughout the country. I am puzzled
MINERS, their widows and children are invited to attend a legal clinic at Burnley Town Hall next Thursday, May 27 to find out about claiming Government compensation for work related illnesses. Miners who contracted chronic bronchitis and emphysema could
BURNLEY's millennium mayor spoke of his pride at the double honour of being the town's first citizen and taking the borough into the year 2000. Independent Coun Eddie Fisk, who will be accompanied by Mayoress former councillor Pat Chadwick, said: "We
PENDLE: Taxi fares are set to rise if councillors give the increase the green light next week. The council's licensing sub-committee is recommended to agree a request by Mohammed Saddique, chairman of the Hackney Carriage Association, that fares and extra
BURNLEY: A GCSE student is appealing for the return of her assignments which were stolen from a car parked outside her house on Wellfield Drive, Burnley. Maheen Salaheen, 16, faces weeks of work if she cannot find the assignments because it has to be
A POLICE officer was punched in the face as he arrested a youth after turning up at a car blaze. Burnley magistrates heard how Raheel Mohammed, 20, hit out as the officer got hold of his arm. The officer suffered a one inch bruise, swelling, a cut and
GOLF: Claire Blackshaw scraped through to today's matchplay stages of the English Ladies Amateur Championships at Ganton after a second round 84 yesterday. Blackshaw, who plays at Blackburn, met Curtis Cup player Rebecca Hudson in the last 32 today. Hudson
A PROJECT is underway to restore a part of Pendle's history. Volunteers are working to restore the old St John's churchyard in Nelson. Vicar's wife Rosemary Hartley said the churchyard had become an eyesore, overgrown with weeds and filled with litter
RACISTS yobs who pounced on a car and smashed the back window with a bottle of beer were today urged by police to give themselves up. The gang left a 31-year-old driver and his 29-year-old passenger fearing for their lives. The victims, who are both Asian
