LIKE Oliver Cromwell I'd ban dancing. It's the silliest pastime ever invented. I've avoided getting up since I won a prize for doing the twist at a bit of a do in the Scanda - the Co-op restaurant, so it shows how long it is since I willingly tripped
I RECEIVED a communique from a dating agency giving tips for Valentine's Day - the next big daylight robbery event of the year. It says that for couples Valentine's Day is a time to rejoice in their relationship and celebrate the fact that they're in
I AM not a big fan of modern art. In fact I don't think I'm alone when I say that Damien Hirst's bisected animals in formaldehyde are repulsive. So is the unmade bed and the picture featuring elephant droppings that were exhibited in last year's Turner
SINGER Chelsey Mansell has been awarded a recording contract with a London-based label. The 21-year-old, from Horwich, was one of 16 hand-picked from a staggering 2,500 hopefuls to be handed a deal which could propel her to stardom. Chelsey was in the
Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust board meeting, Wainwright room, Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, 2pm. All welcome. "My Mother Said I Never Should," New Millennium Theatre, Waterfoot, 7.30pm. Local Victorian churches, Whitworth
MACK and Mabel, the story of the stars of the silent screen, opens at Clitheroe Parish Hall next week. The musical, best known for the overture made famous by Torvill and Dean, stars David Norris and Maria Masterman as the silent film director and his
A CHILDREN'S performance of musical Whistle Down the Wind will be staged by the Hippodrome Youth Theatre, Todmorden. Zoe Case, Vikki Smith, Saul Moorhouse and Steven Hooper star in the show about children who find a man hiding in a barn. They are sure
I AM trying to trace my cousin Lucy Isherwood, who was born in Blackburn. Her parents were Joseph Isherwood, who was killed in the RAF in 1943 and Edith (nee Platt). Edith later married an American serviceman named Ken and they went to the States after
WITH the number of people who vote in elections continuing to decline, there are calls for voting to be made compulsory. If this was ever introduced, it would put people in the Nationalist community (I am talking about people like myself, an English nationalist
YOU reported (LET, January 20) that Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans questioned Leader of the Commons Margaret Beckett, about the Government's persecution of greengrocers throughout the country for selling fruit and vegetables in pounds and ounces. She
REGARDING the recent revelation of the deselection of Blackburn Councillor Peter Greenwood, I reiterate the comments of Jeff Stone (Letters, January 29), for while not seeing local issues in the way Peter does, I know him to be a keen supporter of local
A LEIGH school has been mentioned in the honour roll for the second time in four years. St Mary's RC High School, Astley, is identified as one of a number of particularly successful schools which has performed well in national tests and examinations.
ARMED police arrested eight people today as part of an operation aimed at tackling a multi-million pound drugs ring. The raids, co-ordinated by National Crime Squad officers, followed the seizure of drugs with a street value of £1.6miilion -- including
POLICE have launched a crackdown on crooks targeting a petrol station labelled one of the most crime-plagued garages in the county. More than £2,700 worth of petrol has been stolen and a robber has snatched £100 from the till at Bolton Road Service Station
LEIGH RMI's FA Umbro Trophy fourth round replay against Hereford United tonight is off. Hilton Park is waterlogged and an inspection yesterday afternoon ruled that the surface was unplayable. The clubs have agreed a new date of Monday, February 19 at
THE Burnley to Todmorden Road is to remain closed for a further week while major repairs continue to prevent further landslips and flooding. The £280,000 scheme started last week was due for completion today but has now been extended for a further week
TODMORDEN councillor Michael Taylor is leading a Liberal Democrat attack on Conservative plans to cut services in Calderdale. Coun Taylor, who heads the Lib-Dem group on the council, has slammed plans to close 15 mini recycling sites, to cut funding to
GANNOW baths and Burnley Mechanics will stay open and there will be no charges for admission to Towneley Hall museum and art gallery -- if Burnley Labour councillors get their way. The decisions were taken unanimously by the borough's Labour group which
A HAMPER agent who pocketed almost £4,000 cash which workmates had saved up to treat themselves at Christmas, is behind bars. Hard-up mum and grandma, Julie Hooper, 38, wiped away tears in the dock as Burnley Crown Court had heard how she had become the
SCHOOLS across East Lancashire closed after overnight snow brought the area to a standstill. The weather also caused chaos on the roads with speed restrictions on the M65 reduced to a crawl and cars and lorries left abandoned across the area.
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl was presented with the McDonald's Child of Achievement Award for the support she gave to her sister, Dee, who died of leukaemia. Laura Livesey, of Whalley Road, Altham, was nominated by her aunt, Gwen Burdett, and was chosen from
AN ardent Burnley fan from Accrington is asking for his money back after having the "worst view" at a football game he has ever had. Ian Haworth has followed the Clarets home and away for 28 years in which time he has visited 96 different football stadiums
IN the course of supporting your team, the football fan undergoes many frustrations and perhaps the greatest frustration known is the exquisite torture that is following your team on the radio. Due to a long-standing commitment, your correspondent was
THE times are changing at a Darwen restaurant after a refurbishment costing more than £30,000. Samuel's, on Bolton Road, has been transformed under the ownership of Peter and Judy Tracey. When they took over the pub it was decked out with a Formica bar
A MOTORCYCLIST broke his leg in a crash on Saturday (Feb 3). Christopher Wilkinson was treated in Bury General Hospital following the accident in Butcher Lane, Bury, near to Chapel Street. His Suzuki motorbike was in collision with a Nissan Sunny car,
AN 89-year-old man escaped uninjured from his fume-filled flat after a cooker fire. The man, of Waverley Court old folks' home in Radcliffe, had accidentally set fire to a packet of bacon. Fire officers said the packet had been left underneath a grill
ARMED police arrested a man and recovered a shotgun after an incident in Bury on Sunday night (Feb 3). The drama happened in Garstang Drive after the gunman entered a house at 11.30pm. Police say that family members escaped and alerted police to what
A MISSING photograph of great sentimental value has been returned to its rightful owner. It was found by Mrs Brenda Starkey outside Bury General Hospital and, following an article in last week's Bury Times, it has now been claimed. The photograph was
AROUND 800 pupils were sent home from school after an elaborate bomb hoax. Two roads were sealed off and Army bomb squad officers called after a suspicious device was found in a waste bin. The discovery was made on tennis courts at Prestwich Community
A NEW way of learning using the "information superhighway" has been officially launched in Pendle. The area's first "learndirect" workshop is based in Nelson and Colne College's DISC (Drop In Skills Centre) centre at Linden Road Business Centre, Colne
BOSSES in the North West are looking more to "home grown" expansion rather than international growth, according to a survey by business experts KPMG. The study found more than half the region's firms (53 per cent) believed the home market offers better
WHAT is this obsession with doing people down? Just about every quiz show on television ends with some sort of vote to send a contestant packing. We revel in voting people out, showing people up as the so-called weakest link, or the least-liked, or least-useful
ROSSENDALE residents over the age of 55 are being given the chance to latch on to a free home security offer. Age Concern Lancashire has teamed up with the Police to offer free window and door locks. And fitting is also free as long as doors and windows
I WAS amazed -- nay, stunned -- by Dick Davidson's criticism (Sports Letters, January 30) of Mr M Hibbert's previous comments regarding the welfare of Bury FC. For many years Mr Hibbert has followed with keen interest the progress of many of our North
IT PUZZLES me why Blackburn Rovers do not make more of the obvious talents of Damien Duff. Week after week, Damien shows what a truly exciting footballer he is to watch and he has the potential to be a regular match-winner. Sadly, this rarely happens.
CHERNOBYL children's champion Olwyn Keogh is to talk to fund-raisers about her work. Mrs Keogh, of Wilpshire, national director of the Friends of Chernobyl's Children, will present an illustrated talk on the work of the charity, which relieves the suffering
CRIME reduction advice is being issued to people living in rural areas by the Country Land and Business Association. Jolyon Dodgson, regional director in the North West, said: "Our membership includes not only farmers and landowners but business people
FOR the second time in a few short you report Stan Ternent berating Burnley supporters for booing one of his substitutions -- in this case, pulling off Andy Payton in the cup tie at Scunthorpe. I sincerely hope that Mr Ternent's comments were made in
LIKE a lot of fans of both Rovers and Burnley, I get fed up of the arguments about who has the biggest average gate, but I cannot let F Higginbotham's comments (Sports Letters, December 19) about Burnley's go unchallenged. His figures need to be put in
A REPORT on Blackburn with Darwen's housing department has been described as 'damning' by opposition Conservative leaders. The mock inspection carried out at the end of last year by a private consulting company, HQN, was commissioned by the council itself
WHAT is it with Burnley fans? They seem to think that only they have had fans supporting their team for longer than five or six years -- going off the comments of 'natural born Claret' Sharon Osborne (Sports Letters, January 23). As a lifelong Rovers
CRICKET: FORMER Enfield professional Dave Saker is looking for a new club in Lancashire. The Victorian pace bowler has had offers elsewhere but is keen on a third season in Lancashire club cricket.
SOCCER: Accrington Stanley are in action tonight as they welcome Gateshead to the Crown Ground. John Coleman's side will be desperate for a result against the 14th place side after going seven games without a UniBond Premier Division win. The Stanley
NEW Church professional Justin Kemp was within a couple of yards of writing himself into the record books as he posted a career-best score for Eastern Province. The South African Test all-rounder hit five consecutive sixes off one over during his innings
WILL Greenwood is taking nothing for granted in the England set-up -- despite playing a starring role in the demolition of Wales. The Blackburn-born centre scored a hat-trick of tries to help England on their way to a 44-15 victory over fierce rivals
HAWKS 2 CHELMSFORD CHIEFTAINS 13 CHELMSFORD CHIEFTAINS 16 HAWKS 1 IT WAS never going to be easy, but an injury-hit Blackburn Hawks crashed to double c defeats, home and away to the Chelmsford Chieftains. The Hawks battled bravely, but their full-time
A RENOWNED play about four generations of women opened at the New Millennium Theatre, Waterfoot, on Saturday. Sheila Godfrey, Carol Anne Connolly, Kirsten Dunkley and Alison Ashworth star as the women of the Oldham family in "My Mother Said I Never Should
AN unusual play spanning two centuries is being rehearsed by Pendle Borderline theatre group. Set in a Georgian family house, "An Experiment with an Air Pump" jumps back and forth between 1799 and 1999, portraying the lives of residents in each century
I HOPE the next honours list will contain the names of the brave firemen from Lancashire who have been risking life and limb to rescue those poor people who were buried under the earthquake rubble in Bhuj, Gujarat. No one could deserve it more. To crawl
AS part of the facelift at Blackburn Railway Station, a new floor has been laid in the below-platform subway. The worn, hollowed, mill stone grit flagstones, laid when the station was first built, have gone. Free from the elements, they were worn by thousands
THE latest misjudged scheme by the Whalley Parish Council has once again reduced the issue of parking in the village to a farce. This new idea is to encourage people to park on the Queen Elizabeth playing fields, which anybody who knows the village will
A HOSPITAL visit last night turned to a claustrophobic nightmare for three children who became stuck in a lift at Leigh Infirmary. The primary school age youngsters became trapped when the lift door refused to open as they were on the way down from Ward
IN a smash and grab encounter, Leigh RMI in the U15 overcame the elements and their opponents with a little help from heaven above. Chris Priest scored the winning goal with Matthew Didlick grabbing another while goalkeeper Heapy who has been in fine
EYAL Berkovic's loan move to Rovers now hinges on a work permit after Celtic finally agreed to sanction a temporary deal last night. The Israeli international was set to have a medical this morning before training with his new team-mates at Brockhall
REGULAR readers of this column will be aware that it rarely gets into deep tactical analysis. There are two main reasons for this: firstly, there are people much better qualified (and paid) than me who make a living out of it, mentioning no particular
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness was today left reeling by the news that Nathan Blake has suffered a fresh injury blow on the eve of Rovers' FA Cup clash with Derby. The Welsh international striker has damaged some fibres in his thigh just 10 days after
TWO 18-years-olds had an amazing escape when the aluminium caravan in which they were sleeping "melted" in a fierce early morning fire. Sam Watson and Ryan Grimshaw were both taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation but were said by fire officers
ARMED police arrested eight people today as part of an operation aimed at tackling a multi-million pound drugs ring. The raids, co-ordinated by National Crime Squad officers, followed the seizure of drugs with a street value of £1.6miilion -- including
A BURGLAR who helped himself to a haul worth almost £2,000 from a woman's home while she was out has been given another stint behind bars -- this time for three years. Mark Wilson, 23, must serve the new sentence on top of one he is currently serving.
A MAN who attacked his former girlfriend's friend as frightened children watched has started a six-month jail term. Burnley Crown Court heard how vehicle-checker Wayne Heal, 34, punched John Paul Hinton, knocked him to the ground and banged his head on
FORMER McDonald's manageress Emily Foster swapped a life of frying burgers for one of physical and mental endurance when she joined the Army. And the super soldier has proved that she can push herself through the pain barrier after taking part in one
AN ambitious £8 million building programme was officially launched at a college today. The High Sheriff of Lancashire, Rodney Swarbrick, started the ball rolling on phase one of the three phase major building project at Accrington and Rossendale College
AROUND a dozen private gardens in the the Knowle Green, near Blackburn, will open to the public for the first time this summer. It is hoped the event on July 14 and 15 will attract from all over the county to raise funds for repairs at the village hall
CLARETS record signing Ian Moore insists the goals will start to flow for him at Turf Moor. The £1 million man has been on target just twice since his move from Stockport County at the end of November. And Burnley boss Stan Ternent remains on the look-out
THE Queen's pub, in York Street, Bacup, collected £655 at evening of entertainment by Rossendale performer John Grogan. Money from the night and a collection bottle was donated to Rossendale Hospice's new Hospice at Home scheme. Pictured preparing to
CUSTOMERS at the Royal Hotel in Waterfoot have raised £10,000 in the last three years for Macmillan Cancer Relief. The latest cheque for £2,500 was handed over by licensee Maria Stannard to Mavis Butler, chairman of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale area
FAMILIES will get a warmer welcome after an application was granted to build a children's play room. By Easter, customers at the Hapton Inn, in Accrington Road, Hapton, will be able to sit indoors and watch their youngsters play. At a cost of about £56,000
A NEW micro brewery is due to open later in the year. Mick Jacques, licensee of the Ministry of Ale pub, Burnley, said he hopes to start work on the scheme at the Trafalgar Street site within the next few weeks. The brewery will provide three home-brewed
A DRIVER escaped serious injury when his car hit a lamp post on Sunday morning (Feb 4). Stephen Duckworth (24), of Burns Avenue, Bury, escaped with minor cuts following the accident on Bury New Road, Whitefield. Police say his Vauxhall Corsa appeared
TWO motorists were treated at Bury General Hospital after a weekend head-on collision. The accident on Pilsworth Road, east of the M66, involved a Rover car and a Toyota Corolla. Mark Icely (31), of Heywood, the Rover driver, sustained chest bruising.
A LARGE quantity of window frames and other building materials were destroyed when a blaze ripped through a metal container on a Radcliffe building site on Friday afternoon (Feb 2). The fire broke out in Bowker Street while contractors were carrying out
DON'T patronise me, Mr Lewis, I can find my way to debate with you any time! That was the challenge from Tory hopeful Nicola Le Page, who hopes to win MP Ivan Lewis's seat in the next General Election. Mrs Le Page asked the Bury South Labour man if, unlike
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness was today left reeling by the news that Nathan Blake has suffered a fresh injury blow on the eve of Rovers' FA Cup clash with Derby. The Welsh international striker has damaged some fibres in his thigh just 10 days after
CLARETS record signing Ian Moore insists the goals will start to flow for him at Turf Moor. The £1 million man has been on target just twice since his move from Stockport County at the end of November. And Burnley boss Stan Ternent remains on the look-out
STREET cleaner manufacturer Schmidt has appointed Allan MacLeod (pictured), of Chorley, as sales manager for northern England. Allan will be responsible for an area including East Lancashire and also taking in everywhere from North Wales to the Scottish
PARCELS company Amtrak Express, which has a busy depot serving Blackburn, has reported a buoyant start to the year. The number of parcels being carried by the company is ahead on last year, according to managing director Will Odling. "Parcel movements
A LEADING UK furniture manufacturer has named an East Lancashire man as its first ever salesman of the year. Terry Barrow, 38, of Stanford Hall Crescent, Ramsbottom, was honoured for his sales techniques by bosses at Beautility. The company, which is
SMALL and medium sized businesses should learn to love the internet and use it more to provide staff with training, according to a survey. The study by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) found 97 per cent of bosses viewed in-house
BURY are preparing to bring in another exciting young striker to ensure their winning form continues. Not content with the arrival of pacy Liverpool reserve Jon Newby, the Shakers are giving a trial to a Danish striker who has a prolific scoring record
AN anxious mother wants to know why her son had his tonsils removed at Blackburn Royal Infirmary -- days before hospital chiefs cancelled all similar operations. And the NHS Trust today said it did not act when the warning was first sounded by the Department
POLICE have issued a warning to people to look out for anyone selling cheap central heating or combination boilers. The warning comes after a series of thefts from properties which are either empty or being renovated in Darwen. Since the turn of the year
POLICE have launched a crackdown on crooks targeting a petrol station labelled one of the most crime-plagued garages in the county. More than £2,700 worth of petrol has been stolen and a robber has snatched £100 from the till at Bolton Road Service Station
WHEN police checked through details given to them by a banned driver seen riding a motorcycle, the officers found themselves knocking on the door of an unoccupied house, a court was told. However, James Michael Smith, 22, of Sandyfield Road, Bacup, had
BEING the manager of Burnley would be a dream come true for us fans, but it does have its drawbacks -- you have to be able to take criticism. However, Stan Ternent, our deity, seems to be in a world of his own when it comes to tactics. But, hey! aren't
YOUNGSTERS from all over the North West attended a one-day workshop with former King's Singer Bob Chilcott at Blackburn Cathedral. The composer put 150 secondary school children from Lancashire, Chester, Liverpool, Altrincham and Withington and young
REGARDING the remarks of Dick Davidson (Sports Letters, January 30) who feels that Burnley, as a recently-promoted and "currently struggling" First Division club, hardly qualify for "big boys" status, I do not feel that occupying tenth position in any
BLACKBURN and District Chamber of Trade's new regeneration committee is asking businesses what are the key issues facing the town centre. The group has sent out a questionnaire to traders and other organisations in a bid to gauge business opinion in the
DAVID Dunn is Blackburn Rovers through and through -- as well as having the potential to be a world class player and England captain. It is great to watch a player of his quality, with so much commitment to Rovers each week. So, who does J Arnold think
LORD Patel of Blackburn has sprung to the defence of embattled Europe Minister Keith Vaz, branding the campaign against him a "ferocious witch hunt." Lord Patel has penned a letter to two national newspapers, also signed by nine other leading Asians including
AS A Derby County fan living in Blackburn I'm sick of hearing bleating Rovers fans, typified by your columnist Phil Lloyd (LET, January 30). OK, Derby's tactics were cautious of not negative even, but this was understandable due to our depleted team.
EVEN by Sir Alex Ferguson's standards the list of excuses he cobbled together after West Ham knocked United out of the FA Cup was remarkable. According to Ferguson, the reason his side lost had nothing to do with the better side winning on the day, but
THE RECORD books will be thrown open at an East Lancashire library so people can discover more about their family history. The Blackburn branch of the Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society is holding its annual open day at Blackburn Central Library
THE chairman of the Lancashire Police Authority has praised police chiefs for their record on dealing with ethnic minorities. Dr Ruth Henig said the force was working hard to make sure ethnic minorities were not targeted by officers without reason. Her
SOCCER: Preston will here if their appeal for a work permit for Canadian international Jason Bent has been successful tomorrow. Boss David Moyes is confident of getting the 23-year-old utility man, who has 20 caps for his country. "We have everything
BACUP boss Brent Peters has the words of Padiham manager Graham Howarth ringing in his ears. At the beginning of the season, Howarth told Peters he was worried his Storks side might struggle in Division Two after their promotion from the West Lancs League
LANCASHIRE have applied for planning permission to build the first permanent floodlights at an English Test Match ground. They have submitted plans for a ring of eight 50-metre pylons around Old Trafford. It could pave the way for regular day-night internationals
I HEARD a lovely comment from an irritated woman walking along Market Street with her obviously fed up partner. She snapped: "There's more shops this way for you not to look into". Most men are the same, a total waste of space when it comes to shopping
I'VE never been fond of poetry since the days I tried to write it at school and was a complete flop. I once copied a verse out of Bunty or one of the girls' mags for my homework -- and the teacher thought it was so good she wanted to put it in the school
LEIGH is well ahead of the field when it comes to teaching trades in schools. This week education secretary David Blunkett announced new-style vocational GCSEs in engineering, building and plumbing alongside more academic studies from September 2002.
A 13-YEAR-OLD Bury boy underwent a terrifying 40-minute ordeal after being abducted and bundled into the back of a van. After being driven to Breightmet, he was only freed when his two captors declared he "wasn't the right one." Now, detectives have launched
BURY has found itself at the bottom of the pay league in terms of the number of jobs offering the lowest legal wage. And a shock survey also discloses the town has the highest rate of jobs in Greater Manchester paying a wage which fell below a level beneficial
