I AM a mature student at the University of Adelaide in my honours year -- not bad for someone who went to St Anne's Secondary Modern School in Blackburn doing a thesis about Blackburn and North East Lancashire during the depression of the 1930s -- and
IT WOULD appear from the remarks of one of the stallholders (Letters, July 3) that it is now the fault of the shoppers of Blackburn that the market traders are struggling. At the risk of causing them offence, may I suggest that they apply a little self-help
I WANT to complain about proposals to close some amenities in Rossendale and, in particular, Haslingden Public Swimming Baths. As a retired person, I go swimming three times a week in order to keep fit, as do other retired people and other users. If most
A YOUNG woman was dragged into a ginnel in Atherton and indecently assaulted, police have revealed. The 21-year-old was pulled into the passageway from behind as she walked along Market Street just after midnight last Friday. She was indecently assaulted
THE George and Dragon pub in Bury has scythed down the opposition to be named among Britain's "prettiest" pubs. The pub in Rochdale Old Road was the runner-up in the national Green Apple Jubilee Heritage Awards. The competition was run to acknowledge
AN open day highlighting technological advancements in equipment aimed at assisting the visually impaired will take place at the Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People tomorrow (Wed July 12). Jane Burslem, of Bury Metro Libraries Visual Impairment
RESIDENTS of a Bury old folks home proved that one good turn really does deserve another. After receiving donations from Asda, Age Concern and BNFL, residents of Harry Whitehead Court in Lowes Road decided to give a little something back. Following an
THE quality of drinking water in East Lancashire is the best ever according to a government report released today. In the North West, more than 99.8 per cent of tests by the Drinking Water Inspectorate complied with the standards of drinking water. That
A FORMER Blackburn doctor who took part in Ernest Shackleton's doomed expedition to the Antarctic has had a medical centre named after him. Dr Alexandar Hepburne Macklin, who was the house surgeon at Blackburn Infirmary, was part of the famous Imperial
A COUNCIL today warned that all of its four cemeteries will be full within the next seven years. And bosses at Blackburn with Darwen today admitted they had discussed the possibility of re-using graves more than 100 years old for new burials. But they
ATHERTON have signed a replacement for dismissed professional Greg Dimery. He is Mihir Diwakar, a 20 year old medium fast right arm bowler from India, whose best first class bowling figures are 7-47 with a top score of 86. In limited overs he has 20 wickets
EWOOD chief Graeme Souness today told Ciccio Grabbi 'it's time to go out and prove yourself' as the Italian striker attempts to put the nightmare of the last 12 months behind him. Grabbi, a £6.75 million signing from Ternana last summer, is due back in
AN inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of a pensioner who rolled out of bed in hospital. The hearing was told Winifred Bagot, 88, of Goodshaw Nursing Home, Burnley Road, Goodshaw, died in Burnley General Hospital on July 3. She had been
A PENSIONER who died after two falls in the night suffered a brain haemorrhage, an inquest heard. Acting East Lancs Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a verdict of accidental death on Herbert Harrison, 84, of Manor Road, Burnley, who died on May 26. Mr Harrison's
A DISTRAUGHT husband found dead by a friend was convinced his estranged wife had got another man, an inquest heard. Gary Concannon, 36, hanged himself in the almost-empty home he had once shared with his wife of 15 years, Alison - the woman he adored
DIEHARD Daniel O'Donnell fans set up camp outside King George's Hall, Blackburn - four days before tickets for his next concerts went on sale. Beverly Rutter from Oldham, Betty Turner from Halifax and Elaine Dymond from Barnsley were the fans in question
A SUMMER fete swelled the coffers at Rough Lee Home for the Physically Handicapped by nearly £2,000. The annual event at the home, on Rough Lee Road, Accrington, on Sunday, attracted a steady stream of visitors including relatives of the 14 permanent
POLICE have expressed concern over a missing teenager who has not been seen for more than a week. Kadir Hussain, 18, was last seen by his brother leaving the family home, in Portland Street, Accrington, in the early hours on Monday July 1. He has not
A COUNCILLOR left a council meeting in tears last night after dramatically resigning due to the pressures of farming. Ribble Valley deputy leader Harry Backhouse told stunned councillors that the stress of foot and mouth and pressure of diversifying to
A FLEET of minibuses is taking to the Ribble Valley to help people who don't have access to cars. Bowland Transit Project will see four minibuses operating in the Forest of Bowland next year. The minibuses have been funded by Lancashire County Council
A PARISH council has added its voice to calls for the retention of a post office in a Ribble Valley village. The race is on to find a replacement post office in West Bradford when sub-postmasters Marilyn and Bill Wood retire in August. They have run a
BURNLEY chief executive Andrew Watson will join other club representatives today to protest against television companies Carlton and Granada outside their London offices. A march has been planned to raise awareness of the Football League's High Court
Astley & Tyldesley's junior cycle speedway squad are on a high after a great win in Sunday's Northern Junior League match at Heckmondwike. Four times winners of this league in the 1990s, it has been four years since A & T last won a round of this
NO more cash - no more cheap places, Lancashire County Council bosses have been told by Lancashire Care Association. Quite right too. Why should the county council farm out our old folk for a mere £270 a week and leave private homes to make up the remainder
SHAKERS midfield ace David Borley will be fit for the start of the season after giving manager Andy Preece his first major pre-season scare writes Chris Hall Preece was fuming after Borley left it until the first week of training to announce he would
AN open air performance of William Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' takes place in Darwen next month. Bold Venture Park will be the venue with the show starting at 7pm on Wednesday, August 14. Tickets are available on 01254 706006, adults priced £8 with
THE parents of tragic teenager Melissa Strickson have won a review which could lead to the re-sentencing of a woman involved in her death. Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General, ordered the action after receiving a letter from Vic and Sue Strickson claiming
A PENSIONER stuck in an American hospital without the money to return home faces another day there. The family of Phoebe Morley was hoping she would board the plane back from Florida today. Former Duttons warehouse worker Mrs Morley, 75, is being treated
A BLACKBURN carpet factory has been forced to employ a night watchman after two raids in six months wiped out a massive amount of stock. Raiders struck at Carpet Link Ltd, Sett End Road, taking 112 cuts of carpet valued at £40,000. The thieves also took
EAST Lancashire families living in deprived areas will benefit from a £184,000 childcare lottery boost. An extra 270 places will be made available to children aged four to 11 at two schemes in Blackburn and Darwen. In Blackburn, the organisers of Crazy
BLACKBURN Lions President took time out of his busy schedule to hand over a final cheque to charity. Harry Pennington presented a £2,000 cheque to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Magic Eye Appeal after a year at the helm as president. Harry said: "Over
LABOUR firebrand and people's champion Baroness Castle was remembered at a moving ceremony where the great and the good simply called her "Our Barbara". Prime Minister Tony Blair and former party leaders Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock led tributes to the
A COUNCIL today warned that all of its four cemeteries will be full within the next seven years. And bosses at Blackburn with Darwen today admitted they had discussed the possibility of re-using graves more than 100 years old for new burials. But they
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Livesey WI, Livesey parish Community Hall, York Terrace, Feniscowles, 7.30pm. Blackburn Flower Club, Trinity United Reformed Church Hall, Brownhill, Blackburn, 7.30pm
THIS country is so full of history that we sometimes completely overlook the gems that are all around us. Places without our history, particular 'New World' nations like Australia and the United States, would make regional monuments out of some of the
LAST week I watched a nuthatch feeding its young in a nest box which I had placed in an East Lancashire woodland. The old name for the species was actually the nuthatchet, which is the method used to describe its feeding. The bird places a nut in the
IN the 1940s my father was interested in mapping the nests of peregrines in the Lake District. It was feared that if we lost the war resistance groups would take to the mountains and contact each other via homing pigeons. The plan was to shoot peregrines
STUDENTS at St Barnabas Christian Community College, Johnston Street, Blackburn, will be presented with certificates at an awards evening on Wednesday, July 17. The evening at the college starts at 7pm and will be attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of
ART class took an interesting twist at Newfield School, Blackburn, as paper was swapped for plates. More than 60 pupils were handed the best ceramics to doodle on for a special art day, courtesy of The Naked Plate Mobile Ceramic Studio. Stencils were
REGARDING all the complaints from Blackburn Market stallholders about increased car parking charges and the invasion of French market traders, why on earth do they not let their feet do their talking? Pick one day a week and do not open up as a protest
YOUR article (LET, July 2) on Lancashire's transport policy refers to the 'success' of its local transport plan which aims to increase the use of public transport. Perhaps Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council can explain to us why
THE recent changes to some of Blackburn's bus routes are supposed to improve services, but he result does not seem to be what was promised. My local service has changed, but not for the better. The route has fewer stops between Openshaw Drive and Rosewood
BURY residents are being invited to have their say on crime busting in the town. The next meeting of the Public Voice on Policing forum will be at 7.30pm on Thursday (July 11) in the Peel Room at the Elizabethan Suite in Bury Town Hall. Everyone is welcome
AN auction to help a little girl suffering from a rare illness will take place at The Fusiliers pub in Ramsbottom on Thursday (July 11). Six-year-old Robyn Brooks, from Rochdale, is in America undergoing lifesaving treatment for neuroblastoma, a cancer
A BURY man is hoping to break his previous fund-raising efforts for a breast cancer charity. Mr Neil Treanor says he has already brought in £1,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, with a big event at a local pub to come this month. Mr Treanor started raising
RESIDENTS are being offered the chance to retrace Bury's past with the publication of a map from 1908. The reprint of the original Bury West ordnance survey map details the area between Bury Bridge and Starling, including Elton, Lower Hinds, and Bolton
NO wonder students from Bury's Holy Cross College and children from the town's Fishpool Infants are all smiles. For they have united in a project which will bring benefits to both. The college and school have been brought together by the Bolton and Bury
THIS is the bruised face of pensioner Mabel Sutcliffe, attacked in broad daylight for less than £10. The 80-year-old smashed her face on the pavement after being knocked to the floor by a thug. Det Sgt Derek Jones, who heads a new street theft and robbery
MARK Ward has shocked RMI supporters by returning to Hilton Park as assistant manager writes Martyn Hindley Ward, who has played in over 550 league matches for clubs including West Ham, Everton and Manchester City, was part of the RMI side that won promotion
SOUNESS has revealed he would like to add at least two more fresh faces to his squad before the start of the season. The Blackburn boss is currently pursuing a number of targets with Manchester United's Dwight Yorke known to be on his list. And he is
BURNLEY councillors are set to make a stand against racism as the town's BNP councillors prepare to attend their first full council meeting. Burnley Council will move a motion applauding the stance of Burnley Football Club in taking action in banning
WORK on the £3.5million Burnley bus station, originally due for completion in July will now not be finished until September. Council officers admitted that although the concourse is due to be opened in mid-August - five weeks behind schedule - work will
THIS is the bruised face of pensioner Mabel Sutcliffe, attacked in broad daylight for less than £10. The 80-year-old smashed her face on the pavement after being knocked to the floor by a thug. Det Sgt Derek Jones, who heads a new street theft and robbery
A CHARITY working to relocate furniture from landfill sites to needy causes has been given a cash boost. Colne-based Open Door Furniture Recycling specialise in redirecting furniture which is no longer needed to disadvantaged homes. And the charity has
A specially-designed bus for handicapped patients was handed over after three years of fund-raising. The 'Friendship Bus' was presented to the Park Lee Entertainments and Social Endeavours Centre, Blackburn.
A CLAY pigeon shoot's 27-year unblemished safety record was ruined by one stray pellet which could have cost a schoolboy an eye. Blackburn magistrates heard that the pellet lodged in Nathan Smalley's eyeball and he spent two weeks in hospital after being
MEMBERS of Rylstone Women's Institute who shot to fame after posing nude for a fundraising calendar are to be the stars at a celebrity dinner at the Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn. The Baker's Half-Dozen, as they are now known, will give an insight into their
A MAN who lay in a coma for five weeks after a car crash has beaten the odds to reap rewards in a national computer skills competition. Jonathan Bettess, 30, of Whalley Road, Barrow, has been named Best Learner in the North West heat of the UK Online
A MAN who set fire to an Islamic learning centre had earlier been beaten by a group of Asian men, a court was told. But magistrates accepted the actions of the man who set fire to the building were not racially motivated. Gary Bolton, 20, had been angry
SETTLE may have surprised everyone in the Jennings Ribblesdale League by their charge for double honours this season - but not captain Andy Davidson. The Marshfield side are currently in fourth place in the league, five points behind leaders Barnoldswick
LEIGH Harriers had their best results of the track and field league season on Sunday at Blackburn's Witton Park. Competing in the U17 Girls Northern Division Two Central League, the Harriers team won second place out of a league of eight teams, scoring
THE sorry saga of Blackburn's Church Street has suffered yet another blow with the news that yet more of the 'sculptures' are scheduled for late arrival. Well, thank heavens for that. The array of now not too gleaming silver pyramids and giant granite
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
EWOOD chief Graeme Souness today told Ciccio Grabbi 'it's time to go out and prove yourself' as the Italian striker attempts to put the nightmare of the last 12 months behind him. Grabbi, a £6.75 million signing from Ternana last summer, is due back in
BURNLEY chief executive Andrew Watson will join other club representatives today to protest against television companies Carlton and Granada outside their London offices. A march has been planned to raise awareness of the Football League's High Court
PRESTON North End have refused a second bid for midfielder Sean Gregan. After having their first offer of £1million for Sean Gregan laughed off by the North End board as a 'joke,' newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion have upped their offer by £500,000.
POLICE in Darwen are waging a two-day war on car crime after a rise in the number of incidents. Officers will patrol the town and take the registration of any vehicles where valuables are left on view or the doors unlocked. The registered keeper will
PLUCKY pensioner Nora Thompson today praised her 'champions' who raced to the rescue when her purse was snatched from her hand in broad daylight as she waited for a bus on Darwen's main road. The young men chased after the thief Angela Howarth and recovered
A 19-year-old motorcyclist was taken to hospital after his bike was in collision with a car in Atherton. The accident happened at 3.10pm yesterday at the junction of Bolton Road and Bolton Old Road in Atherton. The female driver of the car was given oxygen
A FARMER was allegedly attacked with a lump hammer after a row over a dog said to have killed three of his sheep. Burnley Crown Court heard how Frank Hebblethwaite was covered in blood and suffered a head wound, facial injuries and bruises after Damien
RURAL areas in East Lancashire are to receive a £2.3million boost for young people, the unemployed and new businesses. The cash, from the EU and the Department for Food and Rural Affairs, will be used to help communities improve their quality of life
LANCASHIRE Police are to test new road safety equipment which, if successful, will be rolled out to the rest of the county. The new speed trailers are aimed at reducing drivers' speed by making motorists aware of how fast they are travelling. They will
AN East Lancashire school is celebrating after being named one of the top sports establishments in the country. Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, in Blackburn, has been told the Sportsmark Gold Award which it received from Sport England has been upgraded
YOUNG fundraiser Jared Potter splashed his way into his own record book by swimming 120 lengths of his local pool in less than an hour. The nine-year-old swam for 52 minutes non-stop in a single lane at Darwen Leisure Centre to raise cash for the Magic
A VITAL scheme to enable volunteers to be trained in basic life support skills could be up-and-running in Bury. Whitefield-based Greater Manchester Ambulance Service (GMAS) is spearheading the Community First Responder Scheme which allows ordinary members
