CHARITY fundraisers dressed up as Dickens characters to help raise cash for children's hospice Derian House. Blackburn Lions ran a tombola at the Pickwick evening in Whalley, in December as part of the annual Victorian street market and gave £250 proceeds
IT WAS no great surprise when the Football Association bungled their decision on the cup fiasco at Tranmere last weekend. But, equally predictable, was that fourth official, David Unsworth, bungled the fateful substitution. For the real villain of the
WORK starts next week on converting a former school into a community centre and base for projects such as a food co-operative, children's nursery and training centre. The Waterbridge Resource Centre will be created from the former Sacred Heart RC School
A RARE transatlantic visitor has put bird watchers in a flutter. Bradde and Anita Bentley spotted the American robin as they gazed out of their kitchen window at Earby. It is the first sighting in Lancashire since records began in the 1700s, and the number
POLICE have revealed 265 drink-drivers have been prosecuted as a result of the annual Christmas road safety campaign. Over the festive season 12,887 motorists were stopped by police at random checkpoints across the county but only four were arrested on
A TASTY tin of grapes designed to top off a family tea held more than just a fruity treat. Young mum Julie O'Malley found a two-and-a-half inch insect floating in the syrup on top. Mrs O'Malley, 25, of Whittaker Street, Blackburn, said: "At first I thought
As yet, no new date has been set for the game to be re-played. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
PRESENTING the final figures today for their Christmas and New Year drink-drive campaign, Lancashire Constabulary again appears to demonstrate that a lot of police effort has been expended for questionable gains - and once more with the legitimacy of
I AGREE with Pastor Alan Barnes' protest at Blackburn with Darwen Council doubling the charges for cremations over the Christmas and New Year period (LET, January 3). To impose a £217 cost on top of the £217 already charged to total £434 is an insult.
Lancashire FA Football Education Programme 1 Accrington Stanley 3 LANCASHIRE FA UNDER 18s: Daniel Brown, Ben Callon, Steven Horsley, Darren Edgerley, Anthony Green, Chris Nolan, Anthony Woodyer, Jonathan Tukes, Leon O'Neil, Steven Proctor and Liam Denning
Burnley Schools under 15s 1 Blackpool Schools under 15s 2 (aet) BURNLEY SCHOOLS UNDER 15S: Jordan Malley, Matthew Lambert, (both Ivy Bank), Michael Morrison, Gary Morrell, Robbie Smith, Robert Grimes (all Gawthorpe), Tom Durkin, Danny Pollard, Matthew
I READ with some amusement Councillor Frank Connor's remarks in 'No place for religious bigotry' (Letters, January 5). Surely, as chairman of the planning sub-committee, he should know by now that he is there to assess the merits of an application according
BURNLEY footballer Andrew Payton, 32, of Badger Close, Accrington, is awaiting a pre-trial review after pleas of not guilty were entered in his absence at Burnley magistrates. He is accused of failing to provide a specimen of breath and resisting or obstructing
A BURNLEY married for 63 years died within 24 hours of each other. Kathleen Sharp died on January 2, the day after her husband Jack. A double funeral service took place at St Stephen's Church followed by a private cremation. The couple leave a son and
WELL-KNOWN Burnley estate agent and charity fund-raiser Philip Healey has died following a heart attack at his home. Manchester-born Mr Healey, 58, came to Burnley to join HW Petty in the 1970s and later opened his own firm Healey and Co in Hargreaves
PATIENTS at Burnley General Hospital were transferred to private nursing homes as the flu outbreak pressure on hospital beds neared its peak. Two patients went to the private sector last week to release much-needed medical beds as the health trust struggled
LINE dancers today took their 10-gallon hats off to an off-duty fireman who stepped out of formation to save the day when arsonists launched an attack on their practice hall. Some 100 line dancers, led by teacher Dynamite Dot, were practising at the Poplar
A CREW of axed firefighters today spoke of their sadness after the Government sounded the death knell on their jobs. And councillors, angry over the loss of Accrington's third fire engine, fear that other part-time fire crews in Hyndburn may be stood
Peake Practice. Food News with Ray Peake of Callums Bistro, Accrington WITH the Christmas and New Year festivities a fond memory, the legacy of eating super rich food is invariably an enhanced waistline and a body deprived of wholesome, nutritious fodder
BREWERY workers in East Lancashire have helped cheer company sales. Sales at the Whitbread Beer Company - which has its biggest brewery at Samlesbury - are up by six per cent so far in the second half of the firm's financial year. Sales of Stella Artois
A SPECIAL series of 'time out' sessions for unpaid carers is being held by Lancashire College. They start with an alternative and fun way to relax called 'Dances of the World' on alternate Wednesdays from January 19, from 11am to 2pm in the buffet room
LABOUR MP Gordon Prentice is urging newspaper owners to make greater use of recycled newsprint in their publications. He has presented a bill to the Commons which if it became law would force the recycled content of newspapers to be increased from 40
A FATHER of three found slumped over his steering wheel was unfit to drive, according to a doctor. Burnley magistrates heard how Mohammed Razzaq, 29, was bailed before leading police on a high-speed chase. Three days later he threatened a police officer
HEALTH workers are limbering up to spread the keep fit message at a number of taster sessions in Blackburn. The Discover Physical Activity project, which was set up in 1997, is organising the events at various sites during February. The family activity
FAULTY wiring in business premises could prove fatal if vital electrical servicing is not carried out, experts have warned. Norweb Contracting is urging East Lancashire businesses to have their electrical appliances inspected, including everything from
SPORTS fans in Rossendale have been dealt a double blow after both the council's bids for lottery cash to improve leisure facilities were rejected. Valley councillors submitted a bid for £1.5 million to help pay for a £2.4 million swimming pool in Bacup
A TODDLER from Blackburn who has been suffering from suspected meningitis is due to fly home from Spain with her family. The two-year-old girl fell ill during a Spanish millennium holiday with her parents but is believed to be recovering well. Public
TOP local bands will join forces at a charity gig in aid of a new Blackburn theatre, together with a new group to be chosen in a Battle of the Bands contest. Four acclaimed groups will perform at the Windsor Suite, King George's Hall, concert on March
BURNLEY RESERVES 0 A YOUTHFUL Burnley reserve side lost for the first time in nine games at Sincil Bank last night. But they will still qualify for the next stage of the Pontins League Cup by topping Group Five if they beat Lincoln in the return fixture
GRIEVING families are being put under added stress by long waiting times for funerals, a clergyman warned today. The Rev Dick Cartmell of St James' Church, Lower Darwen, said people in his parish were among those affected by a rise in deaths, partly caused
BURNLEY'S bid to sign Tony Thorpe on loan from Bristol City has fallen through - for the time being at least. And Brett Angell is another striker not heading for Turf Moor after he apparently rejected the chance of a temporary move. Clarets boss Stan
BLACKBURN Rovers defender Callum Davidson is hoping he has finally won over the doubters following his stunning performance in Monday night's astonishing FA Cup victory over Liverpool. The Scottish international full-back has had an indifferent season
"Cinderella" Burnley Mechanics, 7.15pm. Jack Straw MP Surgery, 4pm-5pm, Mill Hill Community Centre, New Chapel Street; also 5.30pm-6.30pm, Bank Top Neighbourhood Centre, Oakenhurst Road, both Blackburn. Janet Anderson MP Surgery, Sudellside Community
Valerie Cowan's Web World A NURSING home in Accrington is proving age is no barrier to using technology. Residents at Springhill House in Fairfield Street have been having lessons in how to use the internet and e-mail. The home has now launched its own
A DECISION on controversial plans for double yellow lines which, it was claimed, could have destroyed the heart of a village, was deferred by county planners. Members of the highways and transport committee agreed to visit the Ribble Valley village of
VOLUNTARY run sports clubs are being warned to check their rules or find themselves paying new VAT charges. Customs and Excise have introduced the new payments for clubs that are run for financial gain, but voluntary clubs could also be included in the
MILLIONS of gas and electricity users stand to be some £50 a year better off from April as British Gas announces the scrapping of standing charges on its bills. Good riddance to them, too. It was always a galling absurdity that customers were expected
OVERTIME and over sleeping cost Foresters dear as Witton Inn hit them for six. For work - and not be able to wake - meant that Foresters started the match with only nine men and an outfield player in goal. But this was far from a canning. Witton took
EVEN though tennis is my game, I'm championing the London Marathon and asking every potential runner for help. I'm a long-term supporter of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital as I've met so many young patients who are suffering from rare, often life-threatening
CRICKET: The way is clear for the Northern League to become Lancashire cricket's sole new premier league after the Liverpool Competition turned their backs on an agreement to take on Premier status. A report from the Lancashire Cricket Board secretariat
OF course I love publicity. It is the oxygen of business, and business means jobs and I am sorry Mr E Ashton (Letters, January 6) is not keen on my carving of Jesus, but I just thought it might nudge people's memories as to why we were celebrating the
IF it is not too late for New Year resolutions, may I make a plea for more thoughtful use of plastic bags, as the last outlet I know of in this area for recycling them has stopped doing so. When you weigh up the number of plastic bags we collect - and
SINCE New Labour came to power under the leadership of Tony Blair, we are well on our way to ensuring that the policies in the 1997 manifesto are implemented. This will take time. First and most importantly, the NHS is making great strides in reducing
HEALTH and safety boss Ian Young is set to receive a top qualification Ian, who is from Rishton and works for RPC Containers at Guide, is to collect the British Safety Council Diploma in Safety Management at a ceremony in London. The diploma covers areas
An engineering firm is set to benefit from a £12,000 cash injection. Lancashire County Council has invested in Equinox Engineering of Great Harwood to help with expansion plans. The firm specialises in precision engineering and boss Arminder Sohal approached
ENGINEERING firms in Lancashire are cautious on hopes for better times in the year 2000. The latest survey for the Engineering Employer's Federation in the North West found that some firms were confident that improvements in trading conditions were on
ACCOUNTANTS in Lancashire are being warned to be on their guard against money laundering. The National Criminal Intelligence Service recently urged accountants to tighten up their controls against crooks using their services to dispose of ill- gotten
A daily diary following reporter Michael Ribbeck as he attempts to give up smoking in the New Millennium I AM seriously beginning to worry about the state of my mental health and think nicotine starvation may be having a serious effect on my psyche. I
Hawks were beaten 4-2 at the Arena by rivals Flintshire Freeze before losing by the same score at Nottingham - and player-coach Haig has had enough. "We had an hour's skating last night with no pucks," said Haig. "The players needed to get their fitness
BURNLEY UTD 2 NORCROSS & WARBRECK 4 BURNLEY United manager Keith Blackburn didn't know whether to laugh or cry when his footballing world came crashing down around his head in the 72nd minute. Having seen his side grab a well-taken equaliser only
RONNIE Baxter was on the receiving end of a razzle-dazzle barrage but hung on to end the hopes of showman Bobby George in the Embassy World Darts Championship last night. Baxter moved into a quarter-final showdown with Colin Monk on Friday but only after
A FUSION of European, Middle East and Asian designs will make Burnley's new Bangladeshi mosque unique - and a magnet for admirers and worshipers from all over the country. First photographs of the model in which the £1 million plus project will be based
MONSTER reptiles have invaded an East Lancashire animal sanctuary. Terrapins Godzilla and Godzooki were found dumped in a bucket in an alleyway near to the RSPCA shelter, Altham, this week. Dinner plate-sized Godzilla is the largest terrapin the animal
STAFF from a carpet underlay firm are heading out to Hannover this week. Duralay of Haslingden is taking part in the world's biggest ever carpet and floorcovering trade fair being staged in the city. Among the new products it will be displaying will be
A MACHINE worker was scalped in a horrific works accident after his hair got caught in a carpet making machine. James Bann, 47, of St Leger Court, Accrington, was seriously injured and will need major surgery to his skull following the accident at Tufting
GLOBE-TROTTING teacher Jackie Hunt is back in her Darwen classroom after spending the past year working at the other side of the world. Pupils from Holy Trinity Primary School have been hearing all about Jackie's experiences Down Under which include doing
MOTHER-of-three Kathleen Walsh is determined to complete a tough 300 mile cycling safari in her 50th year - even though she's never owned a bike. The accounts clerk hopes to raise more than £2,000 for charity by taking part in the gruelling physical challenge
A SCHOOL bus service withdrawn three years ago because of vandalism is back on the road because parents have promised to ride 'shotgun' and deal with any troublemakers. A deal has been struck between the Northern Blue Bus Company and the Higher Croft
