JACK Straw today spoke of his "very nearly pure joy" of working for Baroness Castle and her commitment to her Blackburn constituents. The Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP was due to take his place alongside the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer
BOOKS are being sold off in Blackburn's main library to help pay for a £1million refurbishment, it was revealed today. But despite claims that the sale of the books was 'nothing out of the ordinary', opposition councillors blasted the decision, which
THE death of a child is a heartbreak for any parent, but for Keira McGeough and Wayne Knight, their torment goes on. One year after 18-month-old son Jake died the couple are still in the dark over what killed him. Yesterday -- the first anniversary of
HEROIN is being sold on Blackburn's streets for as little as £5 a wrap - prompting fears schoolchildren could buy the killer drug with their pocket money. Police today said the low prices made the area one of the cheapest in the country for the Class
HEROIN is being sold on Blackburn's streets for as little as £5 a wrap - prompting fears schoolchildren could buy the killer drug with their pocket money. Police today said the low prices made the area one of the cheapest in the country for the Class
A DISGRACED former GP who "misappropriated" more than £23,000 in cash has walked free from court. Burnley Crown Court heard father of three Dr Jogendra Prasad Ojha, 63, had conned money out of health bosses and insurers by lying . He even cheated his
ENGLISH gymnastic champion Craig Heap has never felt in better form as he bids to finish off his career in style. The 28-year-old goes to the Commonwealth Games in Manchester next month - what is probably his last big competition - competing for a possible
A FEW strides separated Kerry Gillibrand from sheer joy or devastation. The Baxenden athlete had got the qualifying time for the 1500m - 4 minutes and 13 seconds - but went into the Commonwealth Games trials in June knowing she had to beat her rival Sarah
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Pot Fair, Burnley Open Market. Guided Walk with Clitheroe Ramblers, meet West Bradford Village car park, 7pm. Evening Walk, meet Witton Park Main Gates, Blackburn, 7pm
IT'S probably no exaggeration to say that heroin has contributed more negatively to the quality of life in East Lancashire over the past decade than any other single factor. It's reckoned by police and other agencies that a large percentage of a rising
FOREVER Bury, the Shakers supporters' trust, was officially launched on Thursday evening at Bury FC Social Club writes PHIL THORP. The event was attended by around 200 supporters who listened to a variety of speakers. Joint chairmen Fred Mason and John
EHSUN Anwar was the undoubted sprint king in the Burnley Schools Athletics Competition -- storming to glory in the 100m and 200m and also setting a new long jump record. The Habergham High School pupil left his year seven rivals in the blocks in the sprint
TIM Henman put in a wooden performance when he 'appeared' at Asda Blackburn in Grimshaw Park. A cut out of the British number one tennis player, knocked out of Wimbledon at the semi-finals the day before, was put in the car park. Customers could serve
YOUNG cerebral palsy sufferer Alex Hook is now getting by -- thanks to a little help from his friends. Alex, nine, has a brand-new wheelchair after neighbours on Hereford Road, Blackburn, raised £3,500 in three months. Fundraising events included a 32
YOU don't have to have been around the block a few times to earn the respect of those around you. For it is not only those who are coming to the twilight of their careers who deserve to be thrust in to the spotlight. For pupils literally do somersaults
THOUGH £14 million cannot be found to save the homes for the aged in Lancashire, I note that the nation intends to spend £50 billion on two new aircraft carriers. Who is the enemy of the worlds' two most powerful nations? The 1928 monologue by the comedian
Gertie and a couple of other animals arrived at the RSPCA animal shelter at Altham a couple of weeks ago and as yet no-one has offered to take her home. As she has no siblings she may have to spend the rest of her life alone, as she may not take to incomers
HEROIN is being sold on Blackburn's streets for as little as £5 a wrap - prompting fears schoolchildren could buy the killer drug with their pocket money. Police today said the low prices made the area one of the cheapest in the country for the Class
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today insisted he is ready to sit down and talk about his future with Rovers -- regardless of the outcome of Damien Duff's pending transfer talks. As we reported last week, Rovers have already opened talks with Souness about
A BURNLEY businessman has been appointed chairman of a national association. Tony Attard of Burnley-based Panaz Limited has been announced as new chairman of the British Contract Furnishing Association. Panaz was formed by Mr Attard in 1986 to pioneer
YOUNG people in Burnley are being encouraged to sign up for free leisure, theatre, drama, music and sporting activities in school holidays. Free transport will also be provided by Burnley Council, which has received £115,000 from the Home Office to offer
DRUG dealers throughout Pennine Division are being warned their time is limited with the introduction of 24-hours a day patrols. The new drug enforcement patrols will be carrying out a raid a day and patrolling hot spot crime areas in Burnley, Pendle
A FATHER of four who was four times the limit had been drinking too much since the collapse of his marriage. Burnley magistrates heard how Micheal Joseph White, 40, had been depressed over the break-up and had been to his doctor for help. White, of Herbert
A CHARITY'S van driver is celebrating today after receiving a new vehicle. John Branch, who travels more than 12,000 miles a year, moving donated clothes and household goods between charity shops for the Pendleside Hospice, is now looking forward to getting
FORTY per cent of patients expecting surgery at Burnley General Hospital have had operations cancelled because of a huge rise in emergency admissions. Eleven out of the 27 people who were scheduled to have non-emergency operations at the hospital had
A COUNCIL boss overseeing the proposed closure of care homes for the elderly in Lancashire was today accused of treating Burnley people with "contempt" after writing just one reply to 2,000 letters sent to him by worried relatives and residents. County
POLICE are appealing for information after the stabbing of a man at a festival in Nelson over the weekend. The victim, a local man in his early 30s who has not been named, was attacked during an event on playing fields at Nelson and Colne College on Sunday
PENDLE inventor Ray Britner is celebrating after a world patent was granted for a pioneering blast cleaning machine. And now Ray, 47, of Beresford Road, Nelson, is hoping the energy-saving equipment will scoop him a prestigious award from BBC science
AN investigation has been launched after a fire at a business in a historic mill destroyed five cars. Fire crews from Earby and Barnoldswick were called to Crowsnest Auto Electrics based at the Old Corn Mill off Skipton Road yesterday morning. The fire
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has praised Lancashire Ambulance Service for their response times. The service has exceeded the targets laid down by the national patient's charter to respond to 75 per cent of life threatening calls within eight minutes and
MOTORBIKE ace Carl Fogarty met the Queen. The three-times world champion had been invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party.
MORE than 200 journalists from around the world were briefed about Chris Waddle becoming the new manager of Burnley Football Club. Lifelong Clarets fan Alastair Campbell took the opportunity of a briefing at the NATO summit in Madrid to pass on the news
POLICE have appealed for witnesses after a young girl stole more than £600 in staff wages from a store. The youngster went into Bootleggers, Whalley Road, Accrington, with a teenage girl and a woman in her 30s. Police said the two older ones caused a
THE desk used by Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle is one of several historical artifacts going on display at Stonyhurst College. Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle carved his name on the desk when he was a pupil at the college between 1868 and 1875
AN unusual breed of animal has returned to the Ribble Valley after they were wiped out by foot and mouth last year. Motorists are having to do a double take as they pass the field full of alpacas which look like they should be on the set of Dr Dolittle
FORMER Blackburn defender Marlon Broomes could be ready to make a dramatic switch to Rovers' Lancashire rivals Burnley after taking up an offer to train with the Clarets. As we understand it, the former England Under 21 international was due to link up
STRUGGLING Lancashire have been hit by another injury to one of their key players. Glen Chapple had to leave the field during the defeat at Northampton on Sunday with a side strain, joining Stuart Law (bruised thumb) on the casualty list. Manager Mike
JASON Prescott from The Malthouse Farm pub in Chorley is the toast of his friends after he decided to share his Employee of the Year prize with them. The 18-year-old from the pub in Whittle-le-Woods used the holiday vouchers he won to take eight work-mates
EAST Lancashire pubs could face fines of up to £5,000 if they do not recycle their own bottles and packaging. The High Court ruling affects any pub or pubco with a turnover of more than £2billion or producing more than 50 tonnes of packaging waste per
FORMER Blackburn defender Marlon Broomes could be ready to make a dramatic switch to Rovers' Lancashire rivals Burnley after taking up an offer to train with the Clarets. As we understand it, the former England Under 21 international was due to link up
HIGH-PERFORMANCE seals specialist, Precision Polymer Engineering is investing more than £2 million in a new purpose-built factory on the Greenbank Business Park in Blackburn to meet growing international demand for its products. The new 35,000 sqft factory
NIGHAT Awan, the Asian Businesswoman of the Year, shared her recipe for success at an event for budding entrepreneurs in Burnley. Awan is the owner of the £30m Shere Khan brand which has seven restaurants and a range of Indian Cuisine sauces and accompaniments
A COLNE company is limbering up for expansion after investing more than £1 million in a new head office facility. Physique, the country's leading provider of new and remanufactured fitness equipment, is hoping the move will lead to new jobs by the end
WITH more than 12,000 staff and an annual budget bigger than many small countries, Nigel Whitehead has one of the biggest jobs in British industry. As group managing director of air systems at BAE SYSTEMS, he is in charge of all military aircraft production
EVER felt like a fish out of water? I think I've whinged too much about my aversion to sex in this column. It's become too much for my friends, one of whom decided to take matters into her own hands and drag me to an Ann Summers party. "You can't possibly
SHAKERS physiotherapist Alan Raw has spoken about his dream move to Premiership new boys Manchester City. For Raw, who would have been starting his tenth season at Gigg Lane, is a City fanatic! But his departure isn't without mixed feelings as he has
A FIREFIGHTER has spoken of his emotional pilgrimage to New York to hand over a tribute to victims of the '9/11' terrorist atrocity. Kevin Birtwell's framed three foot high woven copy of the New York Fire Department (NYFD) badge will now be on permanent
CADETS who are taking part in a march in Holland turned to Asda in Rawtenstall to help raise funds. The store's household and leisure supervisor Jane Taylor is an under officer with greater Manchester Army Cadet Force who will be travelling to Nijmegen
A MAN with mental health problems who produced a knife in front of police officers was issuing a "cry for help" said his defence. Bury Magistrates heard how Paul Evans, 30, had been living with a friend at an address in Blackburn Road, Haslingden. He
A CHURCH community is celebrating 125 years with a trip down memory lane. Members of St Andrews Church in Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, are gathering this weekend to celebrate and turn back the clock. And church goer Richard Howarth has spent several
PARKWOOD Juniors maintained their fine start to the East Lancs Junior League against an inexperienced but promising Burnley side. Parkwood's foursome swept to victory with the Mason brothers and Bartop sisters in unstoppable form. However, Thomas and
With the season well and truly under way I have decided to revise my goals for the season and see were the team is upto. I said that if we managed to raise 11 players every week I thought we would have a chance of getting into at least the play off for
BILL Hindle has become the first man to win three titles in the World Masters Judo Championships. The Bacup Judo Club senior instructor lifted the title for the third consecutive year at the championships held in Derry, Northern Ireland. Now the 62-year-old
UNBELIEVABLE! On one hand Mrs T Warburton (Letters, July 3) expresses her sympathy for the 'poor Blackburn traders' regarding the council's decision to allow a temporary market on Church Street. On the other, she freely admits to spending her money in
I VISITED the French Market in Blackburn and bought a chocolate croissant costing 70p, which was not 100 per cent fresh. The same day, I saw a pack of two chocolate croissants that were just a little bit smaller in a store in the town centre for 89p.
IN APRIL, new legislation regarding private care homes for the elderly came into force and must be fully implemented by 2007. Each resident must have 10 square metres of space -- 12 for wheelchair-users -- four square meters in communal areas and private
HAVING obtained an East Lancashire directory for our relevant local councillors, I could not ignore the two contract numbers given by Councillor Tim O'Kane, one of Clayton-le-Moors' two representatives. The first is for a mobile phone. The second is a
POLICE are to step up patrols and have warned youngsters not to go out alone, after a man performed a sex act on himself at a popular play area on two separate occasions. The man, aged between 30 and 40, has been seen in bushes near the canalside play
ROVERS defender Hakan Unsal was set to undergo a minor operation today to clean out his knee after picking up an injury during the World Cup. The surgery -- which involves trimming a cartilage -- was due to be performed in Manchester and could mean Unsal
A NURSE allegedly suffered a broken arm and a serious eye wound at the hands of her ex-partner after he accused her of seeing another man. Burnley Crown Court heard how Janine Bleazard was systematically beaten, headbutted and kicked by Terrance Alderson
THREE people were taken to hospital after a collision between a Land Rover and a motorcycle. The accident took place on the Barden Lane junction with Holme End in Reedley at 5.20pm on Sunday. Brenda Oliphant, 68, of Holme End Farm, Greenhead Lane, Reedley
MEMBERS of Nelson's Arion Male Voice Choir is busy rehearsing for the Llangollen International Music Festival on Friday, July 13. One of the pieces the 70-strong unit is rehearsing for the big event is "The Soldier's Lot" a traditional Czechoslovakian
POLICE are to step up patrols and have warned youngsters not to go out alone, after a man performed a sex act on himself at a popular play area on two separate occasions. The man, aged between 30 and 40, has been seen in bushes near the canalside play
INTERNATIONAL pianists are to take to the stage at the Centenaries Theatre, Stonyhurst, for the Ribble Valley International Piano Week. The event, from Sunday, July 14, to Saturday, July 20, will include recitals by Noriko Ogawa and Miyako Machida, from
HUNDREDS of mourners packed a Clitheroe church for the funeral of a 20-year-old mechanic described as a man of character and capability. Sabden was deserted and its service station closed as villagers made their way to St James's Church for the funeral
A MAN who made his mother's life a misery can have nothing to do with her for two years. Burnley magistrates' heard how David Grimes' mother Linda needed a break from him although she had not given up on him. Grimes, 23, of Albert Street, Burnley, was
THE Lock n Load Comedy Club will move to a Saturday night after the next show on August 1. The night will be moved from a Thursday due to its success and requests from customers. The news comes as the night's promoters announce the new line-up for the
THE Plough, Oswaldtwistle, has announced its new line-up of evening acts for the rest of July. The pub in Broadfield has a packed week with live gigs on a Wednesday and Friday, a quiz on a Thursday and an extra night on the last Saturday of July. Tomorrow
ROVERS boss Graeme Souness today insisted he is ready to sit down and talk about his future - regardless of the outcome of Damien Duff's pending transfer talks. As we reported last week, Rovers have already opened talks with Souness about the possibility
ACCRINGTON-BASED recruitment specialist Cummins Mellor has reached a major milestone in its development, placing its 5,000th employee into work. Charles Sharukai was found a job at Inter Link Foods' Crossfield Bakery in Blackburn where he has joined the
A BLACKBURN-BASED independent travel agency is flying high above the turbulence disturbing much of the industry with plans for continued growth and expansion. PA Travel took a conscious decision in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11
WHEN Peter Swift saw one of his bikes 'doing a wheelie' down the Mall in front of the Queen, he knew Blackburn-based CCM Motorcycles was back in the big time. The 'By Royal Appointment' stunt -- part of a celebration of 50 years of British bikes for the
WALSHAW reached the Cross Cup final last night after an epic clash with Association title rivals Atherton writes Neil Bonnar The match finally finished eight days after it began with Walshaw following up a league victory over the same opposition at the
THE children's classic Wind in the Willows is coming to Darwen Library Theatre in time for the summer holidays. Tickets are on sale for the stage-adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's book on July 30 from 2pm. Actors in animal masks will play the roles of Ratty
THE landlord of a revamped Darwen pub, The Office in Holden Fold, is inviting everyone to a welcome evening from 8.30pm on Friday. Barry Lee moved into the pub, the former OddFellows, two weeks ago and to celebrate he will stage an evening of live music
BIDDERS who 'exterminate' the competition can take away a slice of Doctor Who history in a special auction. More than 100 autographed items from the famous sci-fi series are available by bidding on e-mail or through the post. The Doctor Who Autograph
A CHARITY pet show to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Research was held at Old Clough Stables in Burnley Road, Weir, when children took along their pets. Unusual categories, such as Dog with the Waggiest Tail, Cat with the Longest Whiskers and Most Unusual
MEMBERS of the Men's Forum at Haslingden's St James's Church are enjoying a busy month. The group travelled to the Ribble Valley for a meal before visiting Stonyhurst College. On Tuesday, July 17, Patrick Collister, of Darwen, will speak to the group
THREE windows at a vandal-hit church were smashed -- only hours after a £2,000 repair job had been completed. The latest spate of vandalism at St Bartholomew's in Whitworth Rake has left churchgoers wondering what can be done to stop the wreckers. Churchwarden
A NEW director of public health has been named to look after Blackburn with Darwen. Dr Jim Paris, a former deputy director of public health in Bury and Rochdale, has been appointed to the new post by Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust and Blackburn
THE Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer were among senior Labour figures attending a "memorial meeting" for Barbara Castle today. The former Labour Cabinet minister and legendary firebrand died in May at the age of 91. Baroness Castle of Blackburn
THE number of patients waiting for treatment with the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust has leapt by 338 in a month. The latest figures published by the NHS Executive in the North West, reveal that at the end of May there were 5,077 on the
BURNLEY golfer Michael Hunt's dream of appearing at this year's Open Championship is still alive after he booked a place in final qualifying following a dramatic play-off triumph last night. Hunt's attempts to qualify suffered an early set-back yesterday
SCORES of tenants will be turfed out of their council houses for not paying their rent. A summer crackdown will see 70 tenants brought to court this month alone, when the local authority will seek possession orders. A further 12 people will be evicted
