CONGRATULATIONS to Councillor Bill Taylor, who has this week been appointed as the new leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council. After 21 years' service to the town, Coun Taylor has earned his opportunity to lead the council, and he follows one of the
WHILE June has been anything but "flaming" our countryside is now taking on a red phase. Foxgloves are beginning to come into bloom. Here is one of the most poisonous of our native plants but one of the most beautiful and interesting. One of its old country
THE LIVESEY Community Base, Brookway, Blackburn, is on the look-out for volunteers to help keep their gardens tidy during the summer months. The work takes a couple of hours each week and would help the base's elderly or infirm residents. A group of volunteers
TWO Blackburn College students are preparing to jet off to South Africa to represent the UK at an international conference. Amar Abass, 18, of Wimberley Gardens, Blackburn and Hamid Shafaq, 16, will be speaking at the conference on racism and xenophobia
PAUL Tuff, 33, of the Islington Hotel, Bolton Road, Blackburn, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £75 costs by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to stealing groceries worth £73 from Asda. Ian Holland, defending
DESPITE taking up painting as a hobby only three years ago and believing his work to be "very average", retired butcher Tom Haworth, of Blackburn, has won his first art award. The Eric Dumbelton Memorial Award for continued high achievement is presented
I AM writing on behalf of myself and two mates, who are serving with the Royal Logistic Corp in Oman, where there is a lack of females to talk to. It would be a great pleasure to receive some letters from pen pals, as six months in the desert is a long
In the general election contest in Blackburn, Jack Straw won with a majority of 9,249 and in the local election contests, Labour held all its seats and gained Corporation Park Ward. The Labour Party, therefore, increased its already large majority on
FOR 30 years the Council and businesses of Blackburn with Darwen with support from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has campaigned for funding for the inner relief road to reduce congestion and encourage regeneration of the town centre. Only a month ago
FOR 30 years the Council and businesses of Blackburn with Darwen with support from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has campaigned for funding for the much-needed inner relief road to reduce congestion and encourage regeneration of the town centre. Indeed
BURY shoppers will be able to turn to all MoD cons to learn more about Britain's armed defences. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has promised to have something in store for every visitor to Manchester's Trafford Centre this weekend when it staffs a special
A BURY nurse received the perfect tonic to mark her retirement. Colleages showered Mrs Eva Kenyon with gifts and good wishes as she bade farewell to Bury General Hospital after 27 years. She received a £200 cheque from consultants and numerous gifts from
A MOTHER and her two-year-old son were reunited after a baby-sitting nightmare. The youngster still wearing his pyjamas was found by a taxi driver on the corner of Croft Lane in Hollins at 5am on Saturday (June 9). He was cold, terrified and unable to
THE first victim of foot and mouth in Pendle today spoke of his heartbreak after the virus was discovered at his farm. Farmer John Dinsdale, 56, has run Rainhall Farm, Barnoldswick, for 35 years, but yesterday the culling of all his 160 cattle and sheep
A PREGNANT woman was taken to hospital suffering from shock after three armed raiders struck at Lloyds TSB in Ramsbottom on Friday morning (June 8). Witnesses to the robbery described how terrified customers, including the woman, fled the Bolton Street
ATHERTON are back on top of the league and they have that man Greg Dimery to thank. The talented Aussie all-rounder was again in superb form with both bat and ball. He grabbed 4-43 to help restrict Spring View to 165-8 aided by Steve Walsh who took 3-
MARK Hughes today quashed speculation linking him with the vacant manager's job at Southampton by insisting he wants to play in the Premiership with Rovers next season. Hughes, a former Saints player, has been mentioned as a possible successor to Glenn
YOUNGSTERS will benefit most from the £10,000 Pendle Council has set aside for parish and town council projects. Old Laund Booth will get £3,000 towards the near £6,000 cost of buying new play area equipment while Barnoldswick town council will receive
A TEXTILE firm was planning to move out of its base in Bacup to cope with growing demand for its products. Gaskell Textiles was hoping to move to a larger warehouse on the GEC estate in Clayton-Le-Moors. About 75 staff were employed in the new building
ACCRINGTON Camera Club has awarded the annual Hyndburn Trophy to Garth Dawson. The trophy, presented to the club by former curator of Haworth Art Gallery Lawrence Potter, is awarded for a set of three black and white prints taken within the boundaries
A 31-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court charged with raping a 25-year-old woman at her Great Harwood home on Saturday night. Heavy goods vehicle driver Andrew Lee Courtney, of Beaconsfield Street, Great Harwood, is also charged with assaulting the woman
HUNDREDS of youngsters from across East Lancashire took the plunge as part of an annual adventure day. More than 600 Cub Scouts attended the event which was held at Bowley Scout Camp. They took part in a range of outdoor and indoor activities, including
A SINGER who represented Hyndburn in an OAPs' competition today apologised -- for not winning! Eileen Nuttall sang her heart out at the regional final of the Yours' magazine Silver Stars competition held in Southport last week, taking on the tough challenge
INVESTIGATIONS have been launched by the council to see if improvements can be made to stop a repeat of the freak floods which hit several towns last month. And the leader of Hyndburn Council, Coun Peter Britcliffe, today pledged to lobby hard if alterations
JOHN and Muriel Riding had enjoyed a relaxing 11-night break in Benidorm with their daughter Val and grandson Simon, 14. John had seemed quite out of breath for part of the holiday, but his family put it down to asthma, due to the change in atmosphere
POLICE are investigating a sex attack on a female nurse at the Calderstones secure unit. Health Secretary Alan Milburn was today urged to launch a full inquiry after the woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by a patient. The alleged attack comes six
YOUNG winger Brad Maylett has been rewarded for his efforts last season with the offer of a new, improved three-year deal. The 20-year-old was handed his full League debut and was a regular on the bench as Burnley finished just outside the top six. And
LANWAY Corporate Business Systems are Burnley's new club sponsors after tying up a record two-year deal with the Clarets. Details of the financial package have not been disclosed but Turf Moor chief executive Andrew Watson confirmed that the terms "stands
ANDY FLINTOFF was handed the Lancashire captaincy for the first time against Durham University today. The 23-year-old all-rounder took over with John Crawley and his deputy Warren Hegg both taking a well-earned break from the three-day game, along with
CONSISTENCY holds the key at every level of cricket and that applies as much to ourselves at Haslingden as it does to the England side in the current one-day triangular competition or the Ashes series. We know at Haslingden that we have got a bit to do
A FIRE at a Fleetwood cash and carry on Saturday caused severe damage to an asbestos roof and pallets. Fleetwood firefighters used two sets of breathing apparatus and a hose to tackle the fire at Turner's Cash and Carry on Radcliffe Road just before 4.30pm
POLICE and ambulance crews were called to Blackpool Pleasure Beach early on Tuesday after reports that a man had climbed up one of the rides. Officers arrived at the famous attraction to find a man standing at the top of the Big One rollercoaster in the
TERRIFIED staff at a Blackpool day nursery were told to keep children away from windows and to lock doors while police closed off the area to search for a man believed to be wielding a gun. Staff at Moorevilla Nursery on Midgeland Road, Blackpool, were
EWOOD chief executive John Williams today revealed he is confident of opening talks with Italian hot-shot Corrado Grabbi later this week. Rovers are hoping to get the green light to start negotiations on personal terms in the next 48 hours after virtually
LANWAY Corporate Business Systems are Burnley's new club sponsors after tying up a record two-year deal with the Clarets. Details of the financial package have not been disclosed but Turf Moor chief executive Andrew Watson confirmed that the terms "stands
COMPANIES throughout East Lancashire have been praised for their £15 million contribution to schools and colleges over the past year. That was the value put on the time spent by business and industry working with young people to prepare them for the world
SCHOOLCHILDREN had a super good time when their cuddly friends joined them for a day in the classroom. More than 100 youngsters at Turncroft Nursery School, in Turncroft Road, Darwen, took their favourite teddies to school for a picnic day. The annual
A CAMPAIGNING Liberal Democrat councillor has criticised Tony Blair's decision to award himself a 41 per cent pay rise. The Prime Minister announced yesterday that he was ending his practice over the four years since Labour came to power of waiving a
THE Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods are looking for a couple of people dress up as clowns for their first midsummer gala day. It is the first time such an event has been held by the organisation, which was set up about 12 months ago to protect the wood and
DARWEN Gala organisers will turn the clock back to 1966. Newspaper archive research by one of the committee members uncovered details of the first gala day on the present site in Borough Road. Now plans are being made to book a band that played in the
PEOPLE from all over East Lancashire are invited to a summer concert to be held at Todmorden Central Methodist Church on Saturday June 30 at 7.30pm. The conductor will be Daniel Bath and the accompanist Anthony Brannick. The concert, which will include
A MOTHER and her three-month-old baby girl were taken to Bury General Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and shock after a fire at their home on Hardman Avenue, Rawtenstall last night. The fire started in a pan which was being used to sterilise
SELF-help support group Action for Autistic Spectrum Disorders has been awarded £279,695 to pay for five staff, open offices and buy equipment for the next three years. The group was established by Rosalyn Lord, who lives off Goodshawfold Road, Goodshawfold
STEPHEN Quigley flicked blood from his own wounds at two men who had flagged down a police car because of a dispute they had with him. But Blackburn magistrates were told the two men had taken on the role of vigilantes following an incident that had nothing
THE police are searching for more volunteers to become special officers. A new recruitment campaign aims to quash the false view that specials are only appointed to man low-key events. Eastern Division, which covers Blackburn, Darwen, Ribble Valley and
EXECUTIVE directors of JJB Sports saw their pay packages rise last year, according to its annual report. Former Blackburn Rovers player and company chairman David Whelan, 64, received a basic salary of £312,000 in the financial year to January 31. Together
THE Bishop of Blackburn will tomorrow unveil ambitious plans to create 100 new church schools, as a crumbling East Lancashire church secondary embarks on a £15 million rebuilding programme. The Church of England will announce that it intends to take over
A GOLDEN eagle called Nadia is being flown in to lift the spirits of visitors to the Royal Lancashire Show, which is to go ahead without any cloven hooved animals because of the scourge of foot and mouth. Visitors will be expected to douse their boots
THE new leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council has pledged to open the town hall to engage people young and old in local government. Councillor Bill Taylor, 49, also outlined his wish that Blackburn's regeneration would make the town a place that offered
THE racial tension evident in Oldham finally erupted in front of the whole nation with devastating results. Television showed the burning of vehicles and injuries to police and members of the public, which demonstrated the total destruction of trust among
LEIGH Centurions' Welsh international forward David Whittle escaped suspension but was warned about his future conduct following his dismissal in last month's Trans-Pennine Cup final. Whittle, sent off for using his elbow in the Centurions' 36-0 win over
Livesey WI meet Livesey Parish Community Hall, York Terrace, Feniscowles, 7.30pm. 'Stick Around' with Mr B White. Craftsmen 'At Work': Handspinning, hand made cards,. paintings, Samlesbury Hall, Preston New Road, Blackburn, 11am-4.30pm. Choral Eucharist
THOSE of us who live or walk in the Ribble Valley know well that foot and mouth disease is going to affect our countryside for some time. Now the election is over politicians may be able to focus their attention on the problems of the countryside. Once
I LOVE water and woodlands and we are lucky in East Lancashire because many of our rivers flow through woodlands. Our Lancashire 'cloughs' are a joy. Now that industrial pollution is fast becoming a thing of the past we face two problems which we can
BURNLEY College students made sure the cupboard was not bare for underprivileged children by filling shoe boxes with essential items and gifts. Their efforts were on behalf of Blackburn-based International Aid, which directs its efforts to improving the
SAMARITANS founder the Rev Dr Chad Varah created a little piece of living history in Blackburn yesterday. Dr Varah, 89, watched as a blue plaque commemorating his life and work was unveiled at the Samaritans' offices in New Park Street by the Mayor of
POLICE on plain clothes surveillance watched as Wayne Gibson entered a vehicle which had been left outside the Blackburn arena overnight. Blackburn magistrates heard the officers approached Gibson after he set off the alarm and he said he was looking
A CONVICTED killer has admitted falsely imprisoning a woman during a Christmas incident at Garth prison, near Leyland. Life prisoner Gurbinder Samra, aged 30, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before a Preston Crown Court judge. The case involves
STUDENT Imran Din only got as far as Blackburn when he became abusive to the conductor after boarding a train at Preston heading for Leeds. Blackburn magistrates heard that Din objected to having to pay full fare and his reaction had put the conductor
A POPULAR vicar who preached his first sermon in 1952 has spoken of his mixed feeling as he prepares for an Autumn retirement. The Rev Brian Stevenson, 67, of St Silas' Church in Blackburn will give his final services on Sunday, September 23 after 12
THE deputy manager of a Blackburn store was filmed stealing cigarettes during a covert security operation. Blackburn magistrates heard that John Grimshaw took four packs of 20 from the liquor unit shortly before he locked up for the night. And defence
I AM writing on behalf of myself and two mates, who are serving with the Royal Logistic Corp in Oman, where there is a lack of females to talk to. It would be a great pleasure to receive some letters from pen pals, as six months in the desert is a long
SO, on June 7 the Labour Party won its second successive general election landslide victory and the humiliated Tory leader resigned. In the general election contest in Blackburn, Jack Straw won with a majority of 9,249 and in the local election contests
REGARDING the current controversy over Hyndburn changing its name to Accrington, Mr Smith of Great Harwood wrote (Letters, May 28) against this name change and stated that when on holiday and asked where he came from he said he was from Great Harwood
REGARDING the current controversy over Hyndburn changing its name to Accrington, Mr Smith of Great Harwood wrote (Letters, May 28) against this name change and stated that when on holiday and asked where he came from he said he was from Great Harwood
DETECTIVES have issued descriptions of two masked men who failed to steal cash during an attempted armed robbery. The raiders burst into Mosley Common post office, near Tyldesley, at 9.45am yesterday, brandishing a handgun and sledgehammer. One smashed
POLICE are investigating an attack on a Bury man as he made his way home after a night out in the town centre. The 29-year-old victim was hit over the head and punched and kicked several times as he fell to the floor. The unseen attackers rifled through
A CHARITY has received a late Christmas present amounting to £1,500. Mr Steve Annable, regional organiser for the Myasthenia Gravis Association, which offers support to people who suffer from the incurable muscle weakening disease, was on hand to accept
FORMER Derby High pupil John Killeen has been appointed a judge at the age of 40. John, formerly of Garstang Drive, Bury, has been a barrister since 1985, practising in the field of criminology. After receiving his warrant from the Queen, John will preside
POLICE are investigating a sex attack on a female nurse at the Calderstones secure unit. Health Secretary Alan Milburn was today urged to launch a full inquiry after the woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by a patient. The alleged attack comes six
A DOCTOR suspended from work for allegedly hiring a man with a criminal record has retired on the grounds of ill health. Dr Colin Ogdon, a GP at Prestwich Health Centre on Fairfax Road, was banned by the General Medical Council from practising for 18
SIX Burnley off-licensees are waiting to hear whether they will be prosecuted after selling alcohol to underage children. They were snared in weekend police test purchases at a total of 29 shops throughout the town, following last week's police announcement
A SPEEDING taxi boss has kept his licence -- and his business -- after he escaped a driving ban. Burnley Magistrates had heard how Mohammad Yousaf, 49, was due to be banned under the totting up procedure, but was given three penalty points. The bench
A DRUG addict decided to sort himself out when he overdosed and was found collapsed and had to be treated at hospital. Burnley Magistrates were told how Gary Stoiles, 25, had been frightened by what happened to him and wanted to kick his habit. Stoiles
SIX shops have claimed business rate relief from Pendle Council -- after saying their takings have been badly hit by foot and mouth disease. And large number of rural stores have also applied to the district auditor for a temporary cut in their rateable
A DRINK-DRIVER who gave police false details is behind bars. Burnley Crown Court heard how a summons was issued for Naveed Akram, 21, the name gave to officers after he was arrested. Sentencing Akram, Judge David Boulton said what he had done was very
A management buy-out led by Burnley-born David Holt has safeguarded the jobs of more than 100 people at a Nelson company. And just over a month after Intalekt Limited was launched, new jobs are being created to cope with growing orders to handle promotional
A BUSINESSMAN may relieve Pendle Council of the public toilets bear the Queen's Hotel in Burnley Road, Colne. Council bosses advertised the building for sale after it was declared surplus to requirements -- and attracted interest from four people wanting
A NEW day nursery has received a glowing report from the Office for Standards in Education. The inspector found the quality and standards of educational provision at Waterbridge Day Nursery in Colne were good. The nursery, set up in July 2000 at Waterbridge
WRITTEN by Oldham-born writer Jimmie Chinn, this comedy is about the everyday lies that people, and especially families, tell one to get out of awkward situations or to make life bearable. Who really needs the whole truth anyway? Telling those little
DEFEATED candidate Nigel Evans faced the possibility of being ditched by Ribble Valley Tories for the General Election. He A special meeting of the constituency's Conservative Association will meet today to discuss the future of the man who was beaten
AN Oswaldtwistle man who has helped hundreds of East Lancashire children learn to swim has been rewarded for his commitment and long service. Ted Watson has coached youngsters between five and nine years old in the non-swimmers' class of Accrington Swimming
IT wasn't quite Chariots of Fire but a fancy dress charity event proved to be quite a scorcher when it took to the streets of an East Lancashire town! More than 20 couples lined up for the annual Great Harwood Pram Race, which weaved its way through the
THE show will go on! That's the message to organisers of the Accrington Carnival from Hyndburn Council after they saved the day. The Council is providing 10 marshals to man road blocks, allowing the carnival procession to weave its way through the town
FUN filled the air during an action packed street and music festival in the heart of Clitheroe. The sixth Clitheroe Great Days Out Festival attracted thousands of visitors during the weekend. It featured four concerts in St Mary Magdalene's Parish Hall
SCOTS Guardsman Malcolm Barnes' weekend compassionate leave turned into a disaster when he was arrested and spent most of it in a police cell. Blackburn magistrates heard that Barnes had been allowed home from his duties in Northern Ireland after his
NIGEL EVANS today revealed himself as a backer of Michael Portillo's bid for the Tory leadership as the Shadow Chancellor formally announced he was seeking the job. The Ribble Valley MP dismissed claims that Mr Portillo's admission of homosexual activities
THE cause of death of a four month old baby who died as he slept at his mother's side remains a mystery, an inquest was told. An inquest heard that despite exhaustive tests by experts at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, nothing had been found that
A TEENAGER died when his car collided head on with another vehicle on a remote country lane near Slaidburn in the Ribble Valley. An inquest heard that a combination of factors, none of them serious on their own, had led to the crash and deputy coroner
RETIRED Clarets striker Ronnie Jepson will be staying on at Turf Moor after being appointed to the club's backroom staff. Jepson was forced to hang up his boots at the end of last season because of persistent calf and Achilles tendon injuries. But an
PAUL Ridgway put in a match-winning performance for the Ribblesdale League representative side in their shock defeat of the Central Lancashire League. The Settle bowler took three wickets and chipped in with 20 not out to earn the man of the match award
GLEN CHAPPLE is relishing his new Lancashire role as an all-rounder - but he thinks suggestions that he is back in the England frame are premature. Chapple has always been a handy lower-order batsman, but two weeks ago he was promoted to open with Mike
FLAT track bully Craig Walton believes Earby's crushing victory over Whalley at the weekend is just the launchpad they need to mount a Jennings Ribblesdale League title push. After the visitors were skittled for a miserly 129, Earby then raced to victory
A LEADING Bury military historian has questioned a new theory that the French dictator Napoleon was murdered by British assassins. Mr Tony Sprason, who is the curator of the borough's Fusilier Museum at Wellington Barracks, believes Emperor Bonaparte
THE export sales manager at Great Harwood-based precision moulding specialists Metflex has landed a UK first. John Whittaker has become the first person to be awarded a distinction after completing the Export Sales Diploma run by the British Chambers
SCHOOLCHILDREN had a super time when their cuddly friends joined them for a day in the classroom. More than 100 youngsters at Turncroft Nursery School, in Turncroft Road, Darwen, took their favourite teddies to school for a picnic day. The annual event
A DARWEN artist's plea for information on one of the town's most memorable characters has revived memories for a Lancashire Evening Telegraph reader. Artist Robert Lakey will feature pencil drawings of rag and bone man Tommy Thompson -- better known to
SHOPPERS in Darwen are set for a 21st century superstore after work began on one of the town's most historic landmarks. Hanbury's convenience store, in Church Street, will undergo a £210,000 transformation in a bid to bring it up to date. The Hanbury
MORE than 200 people travelled from as far as Cardiff and Cumbria to take part in the two-day 18th Rossendale Music Festival. There were more entries in the children's categories than since the festival began 18 years' ago. Junior and senior competitors
SPRIGHTLY pensioner Muriel Whittaker is proof you are never too old to learn because at 86 she has enrolled on a computer course. Muriel of Edgeside Lane, Edgeside, is church secretary at the Unitarian Church in Newchurch and said the computer skills
A POSTIE from Bacup who is spearheading a campaign to have unadopted streets brought up to standard is appealing for residents in East Lancashire to form their own groups. Dale Connearn is chairman of Streets Ahead which is working to raise funds have
THE saga of when repairs to fire-damaged Haslingden Library are to be completed continues with yet another delay. Shelving had arrived on Monday, but when workmen came to drill the walls in the lending library they found the plaster had perished and the
A RUGBY player who nearly died after a tackle has been forced to cancel his wedding next month because the injury left him short of cash. Peter Sharrock, 35, was injured on January 21 while he was playing for Todmorden. Coach John McGrath said: "It was
A CENTURY-OLD working men's club has been forced to close after brewery bosses put the building up for sale. The closure has left more than 200 members of Cob Wall WMC, Daisy Lane, Blackburn, searching for another club to join. The club has been fighting
GEORGE James Smith was mugged before he could carry out his promise to buy sun glasses for his children, in time for their holiday with their mother. Blackburn magistrates heard that the unemployed labourer was desperate not to let them down so he tried
NEW Foreign Secretary Jack Straw today defended a decision to take his full cabinet pay rise worth more than £18,000 a year which he said was "the rate for the job". Earlier this week Tony Blair announced that after a four-year freeze cabinet ministers
DINERS in East Lancashire get smoke in their eyes whenever they want to eat out -- or so claims a new survey published by the Consumers' Association. But a spot check by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph enjoyed a six-out-of-six success rate when we requested
CRAIG Fort 'scraped through' to the final of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph-sponsored Harold Ryden Trophy by beating Blackburn teenager Anthony Harwood. The Nelson player fought a tight game with the 19-year-old, who missed a six-foot putt on the 18th
LEIGH Centurions' pair Dave Bradbury and Liam Bretherton have been called up for international duty at the end of the month. Prop Bradbury and half-back Bretherton are named in the 17-man Ireland squad that will take on France in Albi on June 26. They
AN armoured car driver accused of being the inside man for Britain's biggest ever cash robbery insisted yesterday: "I didn't do it." Ex-policeman Graham Huckerby, aged 41, of Clifton Road, Prestwich, also denied taking a bribe to allow masked gunmen to
