SENSIBLY, ambulance chiefs in Lancashire have stopped short of issuing rigid rules banning crews from addressing patients in friendly terms such as "love," "pal," or "sunshine." Even so, they have felt it necessary to hold a survey among staff to find
IF you want to watch birds this summer, the best place to go is the Leighton Moss RSPB reserve at Silverdale. To get there, take the M6 to junction 35a, and follow signs to Carnforth. At the traffic lights turn right, pass the station on the left and
POLICE have issued a warning to pensioners after a man conned his way into the home of an elderly woman in Blackburn. The man claimed to be from the water board and talked his way into the property in Cowell Way, Blackburn. He left empty-handed, but assaulted
IN your editorial (LET, July 16) you call for a reversal of the reduction in school buses that Blackburn with Darwen subsidises. You suggest that these reductions are due to 'thrift' and 'cuts' by the council. If only it were so simple. The money that
AN alleged rapist told a jury a 78-year-old widow touched his private parts when he was in a drunken stupor in her home. Hairdresser Henry Lasota, aged 60, said he and the woman he had known for 50 years had been drinking, joking and laughing together
TWO robbers face being caught red-handed after a cashbox exploded when they snatched it from a security guard. Moments after the green cashbox was taken, a security device activated covering the box and its cash contents with red coloured dye. Detectives
A PENSIONER was due to appear in court today charged with the murder of his wife. John Boyes, 65, of Elland Road, Brierfield, is accused of killing his wife, Celia, who was discovered by police at their home yesterday. Inquiries into her death, led by
AMBULANCE crews have been told to be careful about how they address patients, after receiving a complaint from a man offended at being called 'mate'. Today bosses at Lancashire Ambulance NHS Trust admitted they had launched an internal consultation into
BLACKBURN Rovers were today still hopeful of landing their number one summer target Dwight Yorke -- but are prepared to look elsewhere should their bid fail. Chief Executive John Williams said: "There is no change in the Yorke situation. We would like
STAFF from Asda took part in a sponsored sleep-out to celebrate the store's new 24-hour opening times and to raise cash for the Mayor of Burnley's scanner appeal. Colleagues Lesley Whitehead, Lesley Davies and Adele Robinson took part in the sleep-out
TWO East Lancashire textile museums are celebrating after receiving an £80,000 government windfall to improve their collections and make them more accessible to the public. The money will be channelled through the Lancashire County Museum Service to benefit
THE house-to-house Christian Aid collection raised £1,120 and the Parochial Church Council added a further 10 per cent making a grand total of around £1,235. This is a fantastic sum of money and will help Christian Aid's effort in reducing world poverty
BURNLEY MP Peter Pike today said anyone who saw the video of former paratrooper Christopher Alder's dying moments would be "appalled." The MP also revealed he would pursue the case vigorously and renewed his calls for a public inquiry into Christopher's
A WOMAN was taken to Burnley General Hospital with smoke inhalation after a chip pan fire at her house in King Street. Firefighters were called to the house at 7.51pm yesterday. There was moderate smoke damage to the kitchen and light smoke damage to
A FREE-FALLING fundraising offer landed at the Hyndburn and East Lancashire Autistic Society. Martin Beccles, of Darwen was carrying out a sponsored parachute jump to help raise cash.
BURNLEY Parish Church scooped a £130,000 lottery cash grant to fill St Peter's with the sound of music. The North West Arts Board award would be used to renovate the original William Hill organ, damaged when fire swept through the listed building six
PUPILS, staff and governors at Moorend County Primary School, Oswaldtwistle, have said goodbye to a long-serving nursery nurse. Hazel Wilkinson retired after 27 years and received a long-service award from Lancashire County Council. It was presented by
POLICE have launched an investigation after a 15-year-old girl was indecently assaulted by a gang of men. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was attacked on Monday night as she walked home from a friend's house along Lower Antley Street,
BURNLEY face a home tie against Steve McMahon's Blackpool after the draw for the preliminary round and first round of the Worthington Cup was made today. The Clarets first round tie will be a one-off played week commencing September 9. The Clarets will
DC UNITED coach Ray Hudson believes America could provide Paul Gascoigne with the perfect sanctuary in which to wind down the last few years of his playing career. Gascoigne finished last season with Burnley but no new deal was struck at Turf Moor and
OSWALDTWISTLE Immanuel Under 15s continue on their road to glory on Sunday when they take on the champions of Cheshire, Upton, in the Sun Life Bank tournament. Oswaldtwistle were crowned champions of Lancashire two weeks ago when they beat Brooklands
AFTER being put into bat the Ribblesdale openers put on a steady start until Rain was unlucky to be run out after a full blooded drive from Nawax was deflected onto the stumps. This brought Hall to the wicket, who occupied the crease pushing singles and
WHEN Stuart McKay's car was pinched by a bloke posing as a potential buyer, he readily agreed to the police taking the car for forensic science investigation. He was told there would be a charge, but the Blackburn motorist was happy to help the fight
ST Anne's Church, Turton, stages its annual flower festival this weekend. The event has a 'look and listen' theme and features second-hand books and bric-a-brac stalls. Organisers are appealing for volunteers and supporters. Anyone wishing to donate their
DARWEN choristers were such a hit with Commonwealth Games competitors, they earned cheers of 'Encore!' The 30-strong Blackburn with Darwen Primary Choir received a standing ovation from athletes as part of Manchester's official welcoming ceremonies. And
A DARWEN man who gave 40 years of his life to local transport had died aged 80. James Chadwick died at his daughter's house in Darwen on July 13. Married in 1942 to Connie with four daughters, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren, Mr Chadwick
TAXIS in Rossendale could have their own colour scheme if councillors at a meeting tomorrow night give the green light to a proposal. The licensing committee will consider the adoption of a colour livery scheme for taxis. So far the taxi association has
TWO East Lancashire textile museums are celebrating after receiving an £80,000 government windfall to improve their collections and make them more accessible to the public. The money will be channelled through the Lancashire County Museum Service to benefit
A 24-YEAR-OLD man trying to re-establish himself after being released from prison stole four sweatshirts to raise money to pay his board. Blackburn magistrates heard that Terry Howie was detained in the cathedral grounds after stealing the garments from
GRAHAM Dean took out his frustrations on two police officers after he had been unable to get information on a friend who had been arrested. But his behaviour ended with him joining his friend in the cells when he was arrested for using threatening behaviour
A HOUSE being refurbished on the Whitebirk estate in Blackburn was "stripped" by burglars who took everything including the central heating system. Blackburn magistrates heard that word got round the estate and Mark Anthony Jones, although not involved
WORK is about to start on a £1.5million school which will be built on the site of one torched by youngsters last year. Councillors today said the new Brindle Gregson Lane Primary School would be a showcase of what all schools will look like in the future
THE much-criticised Lord Square in Blackburn is currently undergoing a mini-facelift, but only after its owners faced some severe criticism. David Higgerson spoke to the man who holds the key to breathing new life into the shopping centre... MIKE Hannigan's
THE road and mountain biking takes place at the scenic Rivington Pike, near Horwich, where it is free for spectators. The time trial - where competitors set off one by one at one minute intervals - is on Saturday, July 27, starting at 9.30am when the
AN anaesthetist pumped five times the safe amount of electricity into a five-year-old girl after she stopped breathing in a dentist chair, the General Medical Council heard. A hearing heard Dr George Vanner, 68, allegedly made a series of 'grave errors
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Slaidburn Silver Band Concert, Hark to the Bounty Inn, Slaidburn, 7.15pm. Blackburn Flower Club, Trinity United Reformed Church Hall, Brownhill, Blackburn, 7.30pm. Outing
LAST month's floods decimated the nest sites of sand martins and many young were washed out of their nests and drowned. There are signs that some pairs have tried to raise another brood but we shall have to see how successful they are. I have also seen
TWO young cooks put success on the menu when they triumphed in an inter-schools contest. Erin Higgins and Hannah Greenhough cooked up something special in the competition organised by Blackburn College's catering and hospitality department. The St Wilfrid's
A CAR seen being driven in an erratic manner after leaving the Anchor Hotel car park in Darwen on Friday night was eventually stopped by police. Blackburn magistrates heard that the driver, Andrew Griffin, was more than double the legal drink-drive limit
CAN any reader tell me the origin of the word, "flacher"? It means an effusive flatterer of tactics! I first heard it from a lady in Mellor. DOROTHY YATES (Mrs), Colenso Road, Blackburn.
THE NSPCC's latest campaign has shown that the physical punishment of children is not 'common sense'. In fact, not only is hitting children ineffective and a lesson in bad behaviour, most parents, like the NSPCC, agree that it is simply wrong. The government
AS THE road safety debate rages on, Mark Harrison (Letters, July 20) quite incredibly compares speeding motorists to paedophiles. But one point completely overlooked by him and blinkered friends is the responsibility of the pedestrian. I nearly killed
ANOTHER 188 childcare places are coming to the borough through the New Opportunities Fund. The latest award means that nine local schools and clubs will share £127,373 to pay for the places. So far the Fund has provided £360,000 to create 660 childcare
A NEW environmental initiative which aims to reduce the number of carrier bags abandoned in Burnley each year was launched at the town's Sainsbury's store. The Bag for Life campaign is a joint initiative between Burnley Borough Council and Sainsbury in
A FAMILY has launched a legal action against an East Lancashire holiday company after an accident at the same hotel where a youngster drowned last year. The family of ten-year-old Anna Moores claim she slipped on winding marble steps leading up to her
BURY have drawn Stoke City at Gigg Lane in the Preliminary Round of the Worthington Cup. The full draw: Huddersfield v Darlington Rotherham v Carlisle Lincoln City v Stockport Wrexham v Bradford Grimsby v Chesterfield Northampton v Wigan Mansfield v Derby
A PENSIONER was due to appear in court today charged with the murder of his wife. John Boyes, 65, of Elland Road, Brierfield, is accused of killing his wife, Celia, who was discovered by police at their home yesterday. Inquiries into her death, led by
THE Nelson Traders' Group have been told that the plans for the What Now youth information centre at the former Eastwoods furniture store in Scotland Road would go ahead, despite their opposition. Shopkeepers in the town centre had submitted a petition
CARS worth £34,500 were stolen from a garage in Great Harwood after thieves broke in and took the keys. Nightingales Garage, in Whalley Road, was targeted by the intruders between 5pm on Sunday and 2am the next day. Officers say the thieves broke in through
PUB company JD Wetherspoon is hoping it will be third time lucky in their attempts to open premises in Accrington. The company is currently in discussions to buy three units in the town's Broadway, which would provide up to 35 full and part-time jobs
IT may sound barking mad, but Alan Ridehalgh has kept the same Jack Russell dog for almost a quarter of a century! And the devoted owner today revealed the secret of his beloved Cindy's long life -- four cups of tea a day. Cindy is 168 in human terms.
THIEVES are stealing valuable stone from Ribble Valley and Burnley beauty spots -- in some cases removing entire sections of wall. And the police are calling on the general public to help them crack what has is becoming a major problem of rural crime.
CLARETS boss Stan Ternent was not worried about his side's 3-1 defeat by Luton Town in the Steam Packet Isle of Man Football Festival yesterday. "I'll be worried if we ever win the tournament," he quipped. Of more concern to Ternent is the injury to Paul
THE Clarets finished bottom of Group A in the Isle of Man Football Festival after a disappointing defeat at the hands of second division Luton Town. Ironically it was during an improved second half display that Burnley conceded two goals from set-pieces
NEIL CORDINGLEY may not pick up any honours at Whalley this season but he has no regrets about taking up his first professional job. The 26-year-old left Darwen last season, the club he had been at since he was eight, to take up the pro job at Station
A MISSING Manchester man may have headed to Blackpool, according to Lancashire Police. John Buchan, 42, was last seen in Henshaw Street in Oldham town centre on Monday, June 17. A police spokeswoman said: "It is very unlike John not to contact his family
I FULLY accept the explanation by bosses of Burnley and Padiham Community Housing that the empty former council houses on their books are not being snatched by people from outside the area over the heads of local people on their waiting list. After all
BLACKBURN Rovers were today still hopeful of landing their number one summer target Dwight Yorke -- but are prepared to look elsewhere should their bid fail. Chief Executive John Williams said: "There is no change in the Yorke situation. We would like
COMMONWEALTH Games medal hopeful Craig Heap has become a soap star! The 28-year-old gymnast is one of the faces of Commonwealth Games sponsors' Imperial Leather. And the Burnley lad's picture is on the billboards around Manchester at the moment, where
SHANE John Hindle was linked to a training centre burglary by DNA tests on blood found on a computer. Blackburn magistrates heard that Hindle pleaded guilty to the New Year's Eve offence simply on the basis of the prosecution evidence, because he had
ZOWIE Bentley's failure to make an appearance at court resulted in him missing the first appearance of his new born child. Blackburn magistrates heard that Bentley was on his way to hospital when he was arrested on a warrant. And Stephen Parker, defending
ORGANISERS of the Darwen Gala parade on August 17 fear it could come to a standstill unless local people come forward with support. The parade, which has been run by a committee for 22 years, has previously relied on the loan of lorries and trucks for
MEMBERS of a Baptist Church are celebrating after its building fund swelled by £2,000 in just one week. Weir Baptist Church celebrated its first anniversary by holding a gift day when £1,000 was raised while people enjoyed tea and cakes, and an anonymous
A DECISION over the future of a local authority branded the worst council in the country has been delayed. Rossendale Borough Council, which came 237th out of 237 authorities in the UK, will not respond to an Audit Commission report until the middle of
CLINT Michael Denmark, 28, of Leyburn Road, Blackburn, was remanded on bail until August 15 by Blackburn magistrates after admitting harassing Clare Walker. The court ordered a pre-sentence report after hearing that Denmark had contacted Miss Walker by
POLICE were called when mother of six Bridget Sculpher was reported causing a disturbance in the early hours of the morning. Blackburn magistrates heard that Sculpher was angry after receiving eviction papers from her landlord which were supported by
THE report which will determine the future of Lancashire's care homes will be handed to councillors tomorrow after months of consultation. And opponents of the scheme,which could see 35 of the county's 48 care homes close, have warned the fight is not
MUSIC teacher Stella Birtwistle has seen many a change since she first set foot inside her school, 42 years ago. She has seen headteachers come and has taught a seemingly endless flow of pupils who passed through her classroom in St Anne's RC Primary,
THE director and two officers at Blackburn's Racial Equality Council have been suspended following allegations of misconduct. The trio, who were working to promote racial harmony in the borough, will be the subject of two separate investigations. Director
I HAVE written a lot about badgers in the last few months. I love the species and I am very careful not to tell people about the location of my favourite setts. The Lancashire Badger Group have done wonderful work in protecting Brock, (this is the origin
COMMONWEALTH Games medal hopeful Craig Heap has become a soap star! The 28-year-old gymnast is one of the faces of Commonwealth Games sponsors' Imperial Leather. And the Burnley lad's picture is on the billboards around Manchester at the moment, where
A GIRL aged 16 was indecently assaulted on a bus in Bury. She was attacked by a teenager after she had boarded the 469 service at Bury bus station to go to Tottington. He walked up to her on the top deck and indecently assaulted her before running off
TOWN Hall bosses have turned down a request to allow under-12s to see the blockbuster movie "Spider-Man". Councillors went to see the film after requests from the public to reduce its classification from a 12 to a PG. But the licensing panel was unanimous
