SHANE Williams, 27, of Gloucester Road, Blackburn, was jailed for three months, to run consecutively to a sentence he is currently serving, by Judge Raymond Bennett, at Burnley Crown Court. He appeared for breach of an 80 hour community punishment order
ANXIOUS parents in Blackburn have taken their children's road safety into their own hands and formed a walking bus of their own. Glenfield Playsafe Residents' Group have actively encouraged the promotion of road safety over fears that Phillips Road is
TRAVELLERS who moved into a town centre car park for Christmas are to be given until the New Year to move on. A convoy of around 12 mobile homes pulled up on to the car park off Byrom Street, Blackburn, on December 23. The site soon looked festive when
A MOTORIST who panicked and drove off after his girlfriend told him he had run over someone and killed them has been fined £1,000. Blackburn magistrates heard that the injured man had already been hit by a car travelling in the opposite direction and
A £3.5MILLION canalside office complex is to go ahead in Blackburn, despite concerns that a planning condition could leave it as a target for vandals. Twin Valley Homes was given planning permission for its two-storey office block on the banks of the
HOMELESS David Johnson broke into his grandfather's house to find shelter from the freezing weather. But Blackburn magistrates heard that the following morning when he was discovered asleep in a back bedroom Johnson's family summoned the police and he
A FAMILY-of-seven had to spend Christmas away from home after a bedroom blaze. The fire at the council house in Leigh started in the rear bedroom on Christmas Eve. The seven people, including a nine-year-old and a 54-year-old man in a wheelchair, managed
BRITAIN'S first virtual school is set to be created in East Lancashire -- helping to educate children who can't go to class. Youngsters who have missed mainstream school for long periods of time will be signed up to the project which will offer on-line
BLACKBURN defender Martin Taylor today set his sights on snuffing out Michael Owen as Rovers head for Anfield attempting to claim another major Premiership scalp. Taylor has already boosted his growing reputation with a towering performance against Manchester
THE future of Burnley's former Co-op superstore site is set to be decided in the New Year. Rival bids are competing for the Curzon Street site. The Department of Work and Pensions want to replace the supermarket with a state of the art benefits centre
THE organisers of a charity playbus for children across Burnley and Pendle are appealing for help in finding a new home for the New Year. The playbus is facing the end of the road after transport bosses withdrew free garage space, despite a long campaign
THE future of a piece of land at the junction of Chapel Street and Arthur Street, Nelson, could be decided at the next Nelson Committee on January 6. Bradley Ward councillors Mohammad Sakib and Mohammed Iqbal have asked for the land, which was created
A TEENAGER from Burnley is the Christmas winner of Pendle Training's Engineering Apprentice of the Month award. Daniel McDonagh, 18, is in his first year of his training as an advanced modern apprentice. He mixes practical tuition at Pendle Training,
CONTROVERSIAL plans to extend Decorpart in Nelson and create 35 to 50 new jobs could be given the go-ahead, despite public opposition. The company, based in Edward Street, is a major producer of pressed, anodised, aluminium components for pharmaceutical
CONCERN has been expressed by councillors in Colne about the dilapidated condition of one of the town's large listed buildings -- Shackleton Hall. A report to the Colne and District Committee stated that the building, which is in the town centre and the
A VERY special school couldn't have asked for a better first inspection report. Brookfield High at Hindley has been praised at all levels by Ofsted watchdogs. The 150-place school, which caters for secondary children with special educational needs, opened
IT was party time at Astley Grange Nursing Home as resident Jack Briggs celebrated his 100th birthday. Mr Briggs, who was born and bred in Astley Bridge, has lived at the home in Blackburn Road since January. He was celebrating this afternoon with family
THE parents of a disabled youngster were bowled over when they received an invitation for a special Christmas treat for their daughter. Staff at Accrington's Superbowl were so moved when they read about eight-year-old Shannon Ryan and her parents that
A LEIGH school has won a second Princess Diana award in recognition of its outstanding work in pupil development. Three years after being honoured with one of the first Princess of Wales Memorial Awards for work in peer mentoring, Bedford High, has been
CONTROVERSIAL opencast mining activities could be cut because of profitability worries. After a public inquiry last year, developers UK Coal were given the green light to mine the mountainous old colliery slag heaps which are a landmark on Atherton and
MP Andy Burnham took to the streets on 'Mad Friday' gaining first-hand experience of night life in Leigh. On one of the busiest nights of the year when traditionally workers meet up with for an end-of-year drink he took on an observers' role to see for
A 44-YEAR-OLD woman was seriously injured when she crashed a car into a wall on Christmas Eve. Kathleen Calvert, 44, of Manor House Farm, Paythorne, was driving a Vauxhall Vectra along Hellifield Road, Gisburn, when it left the road at 8.20am. The road
AS a former Wigan councillor and a local resident I was delighted to read that the work of Wigan MBC has been officially recognised by the Government as "excellent". This is nothing other than the result of hard work and steadfast commitment to Labour
THERE will be no new faces at Turf Moor until the New Year at least, according to Clarets chairman Barry Kilby. The obvious need for squad strengthening was discussed at a board meeting at the start of the week and Kilby repeated: "We have said the key
SHOPPERS in Ramsbottom are warned not to get conned by people selling counterfeit goods. Trading Standards chiefs in Bury have taken steps to advise residents about how to spot fake gear. A series of operations have taken place throughout the North West
A MAN who had sex with a schoolgirl and got her pregnant has been jailed for five and a half years. Michael Wilkinson, now 24, groomed and prepared the child for sex by playfighting and flirting. He was only caught out when the girl had to undergo the
BRITAIN'S first virtual school is set to be created in East Lancashire -- helping to educate children who can't go to class. Youngsters who have missed mainstream school for long periods of time will be signed up to the project which will offer on-line
A NEW information service focussing on the needs of people with mental health problems opened on Friday at Leigh Infirmary. From January the call centre, opened by Leigh MP Andy Burnham, will provide a 24 hour service.
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after an 84-year-old local woman died following a collision with a blue Ford Escort. The pedestrian was crossing Wigan Road in Leigh, near its junction with Norbury Street, at 6.20pm on Sunday when the N-reg Ford Escort
Bury 1 Rochdale 1 by Chris Hall: SHAKERS boss Andy Preece kept his cool despite a crucial handball decision costing his side a vital three points. Jon Newby finally cracked a miserable Rochdale outfit on the hour mark only to see his strike cancelled
TEENAGERS are being given a stark warning by road safety chiefs in the run up to the New Year. Lancashire County Council's Road Safety Group is making teenagers aware of the dangers they face on the road during the school holidays as part of the Government's
WHILE Santa was wrapping up his festive drop-offs, nurses in Blackburn were making two special deliveries for themselves. And for the lucky parents, it was the best Christmas presents they could have asked for -- despite the fact that they weren't expected
AN RSPCA officer has described the stabbing to death of a dog in a Blackburn alleyway as a "callous and cowardly" act. Andy Kench was the officer who tried to save the ten year-old cross-breed as it lay dying next to Holmebrook Close, in the Fishmoor
KOSOVAN asylum seeker Arsim Fejzullahu is hoping his first Christmas with his British wife and baby girl will not be the last. He faces a tribunal early in the New Year to appeal against the decision to refuse him refugee status. If unsuccessful, Arsim
STREET-CORNER drink dealers who supply alcohol to youngsters are being targeted as part of a new crackdown on teeny booze binges. And off-licence workers across East Lancashire have been warned that they too could face prosecution if they sell alcohol
A VERY special school couldn't have asked for a better first inspection report. Brookfield High at Hindley has been praised at all levels by Ofsted watchdogs. The 150-place school, which caters for secondary children with special educational needs, opened
I'VE noticed the ever increasing number of houses with big disabled signs painted on bays on the road outside. It's not something I would like to advertise if I was unfortunate enough to be incapacitated in some way. Do people respect the sign and leave
I'm sure all local residents who have to suffer these horrible objects will applaud his action. Imagine the noise made by empty haulage wagons when they go over them, it's bad enough when they're on the flat. Now perhaps our hero could start removing
TWO teenagers came flying out of the old Sems in Railway Road just in front of me. As they leapt through the door one caught and badly ripped his jacket on the door handle. That's the price of being silly I thought. However, I was touched by the obvious
I HOPE Kirsty Brown, who is seeking a taxi for her severely disabled mother on Christmas Day, found a good samaritan. She tells me she needed a cab with tail lift to transport her mum just a mile from Astley to Tyldesley and had spent two weeks trying
THE ever increasing rise in the number of cars has changed another means of transport for ever -- the pram. There's no place on today's busy streets for the magnificent coach built baby carriers of not long ago. Neither are they necessary when most littlies
YOUNGSTERS who have to put up with prolonged sickness, psychological problems or even teenage pregnancy have enormous hurdles to clear to catch up with fit colleagues in adult life. As well as suffering trauma and pain they are likely to have missed large
LANCASHIRE Evening Telegraph readers have been thanked for giving needy people a better Christmas. Wendy Hobson spoke out after she organised the 'Be a Star, Light Up Someone's Christmas' campaign for the Blackburn Partnership's Europrint Employee Involvement
HEALTH and Safety investigators have begun a probe into an accident at a packaging firm. A man, who is believed to have been in his 20s but who has not been named by police, was taken to hospital with leg and head injuries after a forklift truck overturned
A BLACKBURN landlord has decided to do his bit for the equality of the sexes when he puts on a special 'ladies' night' at his venue. Ronnie Brown, of Northbar, Town Hall Street, said he was in the process of organising a night with male dancers in February
A PENSIONER was gagged and robbed on the doorstep of his home in Atherton. The 66-year-old saw three men standing outside his house and, thinking he recognised one of them, he opened the door. Two of the men walked away, while the other pushed his way
THE organisers of a charity playbus for children across Burnley and Pendle are appealing for help in finding a new home for the New Year. The playbus is facing the end of the road after transport bosses withdrew free garage space, despite a long campaign
CHRISTMAS Day was a busy time for the nurses on Burnley General Hospital's delivery suite, with four babies sharing the limelight before the turkey dinner was even cooked. As most people slept off their Christmas Eve hangovers, new mum Audrey Lewis and
SHAKERS player-manager Andy Preece hasa full strength squad to pick from for the Boxing Day trip to Gay Meadow. Forwards Gareth Seddon and George Clegg will be hoping to play some role. They were both available at the weekend for the 1-1 draw with Rochdale
ENTERPRISING students at Blackburn College set up entertainment businesses Yefa promotions after being entered in the national Young Enterprise project.
HAIRDRESSERS kicked off the new season in style when they dressed up as Rovers players. Staff at Slater's, in Whalley New Road, Blackburn, brought smiles to the faces of their customers when they donned the famous blue and white strip.
THIEVES escaped with property worth £690 when they burgled a house in Hawthorne Bank, Burnley Road, Altham. After climbing a wall at the back of the house, the intruders forced a door, ransacked the house and stole a Samsung video, worth £75; a Freestyle
HAG Fold is as safe as houses thanks to a community effort to build a barrier against crime. Eighteen months ago residents pitched-in to build decorative metal front garden fences. Last month they completed the last project under funding from a government
MURIEL and Horace Moss fell in love after he helped her take a corpse to a hospital mortuary. Now more than 60 years later they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on Christmas Eve. Their chilly first meeting was at Leigh Infirmary, where Muriel
WORK is finally underway on a £30,000 scheme to give Westleigh teenagers a place of their own. Draxeda Construction have started work on a 'teenmeet' base on land off Briar Grove which will feature an arch swing on a rubber safety surface, two shelters
A HEALTHY future is just around the corner thanks to an £86m boost for Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust. The Trust will receive an extra £26 milliom next year raising its current baseline to £291.5 million in 2003/4 rising to £348.9 million
THREE women and a child were treated for smoke inhalation following a blaze at their Prestwich home on Christmas Day. The fire is believed to have started in the bedroom of the first floor flat after too many electrical appliances were left plugged to
A SPECIAL working group comprising county councils and Government inspectors has been set up in the wake of the foot and mouth epidemic. Lancashire County Council is one of seven local authorities in Northern England at the forefront of the new initiative
It makes me proud to hear our council is one of the best in the county. I, like all people who live within this borough whether Leyther, Pie-Eater or whatever, wish our council success as our council runs the services we use every day. The best part of
THERE will be no new faces at Turf Moor until the New Year at least, according to Clarets chairman Barry Kilby. The obvious need for squad strengthening was discussed at a board meeting at the start of the week and Kilby repeated: "We have said the key
BLACKBURN defender Martin Taylor today set his sights on snuffing out Michael Owen as Rovers head for Anfield attempting to claim another major Premiership scalp. Taylor has already boosted his growing reputation with a towering performance against Manchester
ANIMAL lovers across East Lancashire today urged people not to turf pets onto the streets this Christmas -- and give them a call instead. Traditional pets such as cats and dogs join the more unusual, including sheep and horses, which are often thrown
A ROAD safety information pack is now available in Rossendale. The pack, produced by the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, will help Rossendale community groups and voluntary organisations to improve road safety. They highlight the dangers involved
CHILDREN from a Haslingden school have helped to transform the town's memorial gardens. Under the watchful eyes of officers from Rossendale Borough Council, the green-fingered kids from Haslingden County Primary have added their own unique touch to the
POLICE in Rossendale are turning to horse power in a bid to cut crime during the festive period. The move has been welcomed by traders in the area who have already seen a drop in crime thanks to their additional presence. Police have hopped on horseback
LANCASHIRE County Council is set to officially oppose plans for a referendum on plans for a regional assembly in the North West. All 78 county councillors voted to fight plans for a referendum on the grounds there was insufficient support from the public
A MAN described by a judge as a "professional burglar" raided the homes of two Blackburn women after seeing them both go out. Drug user Mark Brown, with 22 previous convictions for burglary, also struck at other properties before he was apprehended. He
HEALTH chiefs have joined forces to promote the message of safe festive partying. The temptation to go that extra mile is never greater as people, particularly young, stay out longer and party harder than any other time of year. But the consequences can
A NORWEGIAN girl living in Blackburn may be missing home -- but she's not missing the weather! Siv Katrin Ulla is at least glad of the warm weather and long days in Lancashire. The 30-year-old from Vatne, a small village near Aalesund in north-west Norway
THE Bishop of Blackburn today called for a town centre drop in for drug users and alcoholics who plague the area around the cathedral. And the Right Rev Alan Chesters said the controversial Pavilions off Church Street would be the ideal place for such
A LEIGH school has won a second Princess Diana award in recognition of its outstanding work in pupil development. Three years after being honoured with one of the first Princess of Wales Memorial Awards for work in peer mentoring, Bedford High, has been
I WAS reading Andrew Morton's follow up to the controversial Diana - Her True Story, Diana - Her New Life , and was surprised to see Leigh-born chess grandmaster Nigel Short has three mentions. How's that for fame? I thought being the answer to a quizword
