THE increasing pressure to stop people smoking in public places has reached a new intensity, with Hyndburn Council discussing proposals to ban people from lighting up in all its buildings. At a full meeting of the council, the leader of the Labour group
A View from the Lords, with LORD GREAVES PARLIAMENT has broken up again for three weeks of September holidays, rather like schools in Burnley and Pendle. But while our unusual local break is to serve mills that mostly closed down years ago, for MPs and
RFL National One Play Offs Preliminary semi-final TOWN progressed into the next round of the Play Offs with a hard fought victory over a plucky Lions side. Disaster appeared to strike the visitors as early as the third minute, when centre Stephen Dawes
I WOULD certainly support a vote to impeach Tony Blair for taking us into an apparently illegal war with Iraq. His loyalty and support for George Bush overrode his duty as our Prime Minister and he failed to present a truthful and accurate report of the
A BURNLEY teenager was today fighting for his life after falling out of a minibus as he travelled home from a night out. Wesley McDevitt, 18, suffered extensive head injuries and a fractured skull during the accident in Bury at 4am yesterday. The accident
BLACKBURN Rovers head for Charlton tonight hoping to win back-to-back games in the Premiership for the first time in five months. New manager Mark Hughes is looking for his second successive win in the league following his side's 1-0 victory against Portsmouth
FOLK favourites The Oldham Tinkers will be returning to Leigh this week. The fabulous 'Tinkers' will be performing as guest artists of Calico who will host the evenings entertainment at St Joseph's Hall, Chapel Street on October 2. Since the last sell
BURY'S promising youth team skipper, David Buchanan, has received a boost after being called into this weekend's Northern Ireland Under-19 training camp. The get-together will consist of 22 players and will be held at the Sports Rehabilitation Centre
A GROUP of Nelson residents will hold its annual bash on October 16. Cloverhill Residents' Action Group (CRAG) has invited people to join in at St John Southworth, Vaughan Street, where comedian David Dalton will entertain. It is the group's third event
FOLK fans flocked to Barnoldswick to enjoy the town's 'unplugged' festival. There were Morris Men in the town square, folk singers visiting various venues and workshops on playing guitar, bodhran dancing and storytelling. Barlick Unplugged, held on Saturday
A TEAM drafted in to rally a regeneration programme in Clayton-le-Moors today declared: "We're here to see change". Members of the community are being urged to come forward with a wish list for the area in preparation for future funding rounds in the
A WORLD-class explorer who grew up in the Ribble Valley is to appear on TV to talk of his Arctic adventures - including coming face to face with a polar bear. Christiaan McLeod, who attended St Augustine's School, Billington, is the subject of a BBC documentary
BURNLEY are set to lose their appeal against Michael Duff's sending off against Stoke City on Saturday. The defender will miss tomorrow night's Coca-Cola Championship home game with Cardiff City as referee Michael Jones has decided not to view a replay
Burnley 2-2 Stoke IF a team's performance reflects the traits of its manager, it's no surprise Burnley have shown such steely resolve this season. There was plenty of it in evidence from both parties on Saturday as Steve Cotterill and his players displayed
PHIL Lockett got off to a disappointing start as caretaker manager of Rossendale United. The home side began brightly but the wet conditions proved costly as a slip in the Rossendale defence left Stanhope in the clear. And although goalkeeper Mark Molyneaux
CHORLEY 0-1 ILKESTON TOWN THIS latest setback for the Magpies illustrated the difference in fortunes between the two sides. The league leaders were physically stronger and having poached an early goal were always going to be difficult to break down. After
THERE was to be no silverware in the trophy cabinet at the end of Bury Women's cricket team's first season in the Lancashire Ladies League. The local side, who went from strength to strength throughout the summer, were defeated in the league's Plate Trophy
BLACKBURN ROVERS chief executive today insisted they had not put the club up for sale. John Williams has dismissed national Press reports over the weekend which claimed the club had sounded out industry insiders about a £50million sale. But the Ewood
PNE 1-0 Crewe A CALLUM Davidson strike was enough to give Preston another three points -- and make it that little bit harder for the North End board to replace caretaker manager Billy Davies. The former Rovers' defender, who arrived at Deepdale at the
LEARNING French has become the top priority for Chorley mum Lynn Schofield. And she today joined Euro MP Gary Titley to urge other people to take up foreign languages on European Languages Day. Lynn, 51, married her husband in 1973 but Stephen, 52, has
Atherton LR 3 Horden CW 4: ATHERTON LR crashed out of the FA Vase after letting a three-goal lead slip. Tom Foster's side had looked on course for a comfortable win in Saturday's second-round tie after Paul Crompton had scored twice and Simon Band netted
Air Miles Manchester League Division One ELTON VALE...3 MILTON...0 A LATE fixture change brought Rochdale side Milton to Elton Vale last Saturday. As early as the first minute new-signing Daniel Holland was called into action catching a fierce drive at
BURY ABC's Olympic boxing sensation Amir Khan could be days away from turning professional. The 17-year-old, who entranced the nation when he won a silver medal in the lightweight division during the Athens Games, is keen to hold onto his amateur status
I AGREE entirely with your editorial of September 15 and also with Canon Hindley's remarks concerning the decision to allow full nudity in the Blackburn lap dancing club. I am amazed that permission has been given and feel very sad for these young girls
I AM pleased that the intended march by Muslims was called off due to low numbers. The march was to bring to the public's attention the so-called police "terror" raids in Blackburn and claims of the violation of civil charities and part of a Western war
ARE our elected representatives worth their salt? Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw goes waltzing around the world projecting an image of care and compassion oblivious to the fact that on his own doorstep little Ellie McAnish is denied an
A DECISION on whether to grant village green status to land overlooking a Lowercroft lodge could be made soon. Bury Council's planning control committee will be asked for a final verdict, which campaigners hope will prevent any future development on the
A LITTLE part of Burnley will be going back to Japan after mayor Margaret Lishman invited a group of exchange students to tea. The group come from Sapporo and are staying with pupils from Burnley's Habergham High School. They went to meet the mayor on
AN EAST Lancashire soldier was due to make a first appearance at the Old Bailey today, charged with murdering an Iraqi civilian near Basra. Trooper Kevin Williams is the first member of the forces to face a murder charge over post-war operations in Iraq
WHEN Ted and Betty Eastley got on a train from London in 1943 they had no idea where they were going - and neither did their mother. It emerged the youngsters were being sent away from the dangers of war to the safety of Barrowford. And on Saturday, 60
FIVE youths have been charged with violent disorder after a 17-year-old boy was allegedly attacked outside a petrol station. The five teenage boys have been bailed to appear before Hyndburn Magistrates on Friday in connection with the incident in Abbey
BURY'S historic market has been "saved" under a radical re-think of a £150 million investment plan for the town centre. The news has delighted market traders, who collected tens of thousands of signatures from people opposed to the move to Kay Gardens
CLITHEROE 0-1 KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC A STRONG second half performance against 10-man Kidsgrove wasn't enough to stop Clitheroe's seven-game unbeaten run coming to an end. The Blues had assumed control of the first half but were rocked before the break. On
KENNEDY: Frustratingly beaten on the stroke of half-time and perhaps will be disappointed he didn't stop the second goal but was rarely tested over 90 minutes 6 CAVANAGH: Made some good bursts forward and provided a number of quality deliveries. Beaten
SCHOOLS are having to spend thousands of pounds in computer software they could be getting free because they do not have the expertise to deal with it, according to an East Lancashire technology expert. The majority of schools in the area buy Microsoft
Atherton Colls 2 Nantwich Town 0: COLLIERIES won two games in a row for the first time in 2004 with a North West Counties League First Division victory over Nantwich. Paul Rutter should have put Nantwich ahead in the 10th minute, but hit the bar with
A MILITARY reorganisation could see Lancashire lose its own regiment. In the third of a series of articles exploring Lancashire soldier's battle campaigns ANDREW TAYLOR looks at the QLR's involvement in the Crimean War. . . IN the 40 years between Waterloo
MANY of the best junior riders in the country will converge at the Goshen track on Saturday, when Bury-Pedalsport stage their most prestigious meeting of the year, the British under 19 team championship. No less than 12 of the 16 finalists in the recent
Redrow Lancashire Amateur League Cup WALSHAW SC...6 BURY GSOB...3 WALSHAW pulled off an emphatic victory in this first round league cup tie which pitted the two local rivals together and condemned Bury to a third successive defeat which has seen them
BURY RUFC...14, CREWE & NANTWICH...17 LOOKING at the Bury pack, it is inevitable they will meet opposition taller and heavier than themselves, whether they are fitter, or more skilled is still under debate. The visitors were taller and heavier than
North West Counties League Division One RAMSBOTTOM UTD...2 GREAT HARWOOD TN...0 THE Rams increased their unbeaten run to seven games and continued their winning streak against a struggling Great Harwood outfit. Unfortunately the home side failed to produce
Air Miles Manchester League Premier Division HEYS kicked off with a strong wind at their backs and used it to their advantage early on. However, on 12 minutes and against the run of play Amateurs went ahead, as indecision in defence gave Ives a chance
REGARDING proposals to build a mosque in Clitheroe, as reported (LET, September 22), I am aghast that far right protesters, including members of the British National Party and local residents should oppose the development. It poses the question that if
RFU National One A FIVE minute lapse of concentration condemned the plucky Tigers to a third successive defeat in this, their inaugural National One season. Three tries in quick succession for the Shoguns, after Park had been leading, altered the game
WE always tend to hear of dodgy tradesmen such as electricians, plumbers, builders, ripping off the general public with inferior work and over inflated bills. What about the flip side of that argument? What about customers who don't ever pay for work
A GROUP of travellers have been moved on from a site in Leigh. Greater Manchester officers carried out an operation to move 36 caravans and vehicles unlawfully trespassing on land off Leigh Road, on Sunday. The land is owned by Wigan Council and Kings
BLACKBURN ROVERS chief executive today insisted they had not put the club up for sale. John Williams has dismissed national Press reports over the weekend which claimed the club had sounded out industry insiders about a £50million sale. But the Ewood
Leigh RMI 3 Hereford 4 by David Magilton: LEAKY Leigh did it again, throwing away a point when they conceded a goal in injury time. It was not what Leigh deserved as three times they clawed their way back into the game with equalisers, only to be cruelly
All the stats you need ahead of tonight's trip to the Valley The Valley, tonight, 8pm CHARLTON (probable) 4-4-2 KIELY YOUNG HREIDARSSON PERRY FORTUNE EL KARKOURI HUGHES MURPHY ROMMEDAHL LISBIE JEFFERS ROVERS (probable) 4-4-2 FRIEDEL NEILL GRAY MATTEO
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes believes it's only a matter of time before Jonathan Stead starts banging the goals in again. The 21-year-old striker, who burst onto the scene in spectacular style last season, has struggled to make a similar impact so far this
THE payments office in Prestwich's Longfield Centre will close for four weeks next month while the library is improved. Between October 11 and November 5, people should go to Bury Town Hall or Whittaker Street, Radcliffe, which are both open from 9am
A DRIVER and three children were injured in a head-on crash, which closed a road for four hours. The accident happened in Finsley Gate in Burnley yesterday morning. Andrew Abbot, 23, of Berry Street, Burnley, was driving a Subaru Impreza at 10.05am when
A BURNLEY teenager was today fighting for his life after falling out of a minibus as he travelled home from a night out. Wesley McDevitt, 18, suffered extensive head injuries and a fractured skull during the accident in Bury at 4am yesterday. The accident
THE owner of two puppies stolen from kennels near Burnley has said she fears for their safety. The two pedigree puppies, worth £930, were dognapped from Nutshaw Kennels by a group of people, including a four-year-old girl. They were dropped out of a six
Oxford United 3 Bury 1: THE hard luck stories are coming thick and fast for Graham Barrow's Shakers at the moment and the sooner they stop the better. Their ability to shoot themselves in the foot against teams they dominate is becoming worryingly consistent
A MAN'S treasured toy collection was taken together with a jewellery haul totalling £2,400, after a raid on his home. Burnley Crown Court heard how the retired victim had spent 25 years building up the collection which was worth £400, was not insured,
WORK colleagues today paid tribute to a man from Barrowford who died after plunging 250ft down a mountain. Staff at Barnfield Construction, Nelson, said Anthony Birchall, of Ann Street, had been 'a true friend' and would be 'sorely missed'. Mr Birchall
A JUDGE slammed a thief as "nasty" for pinching pension cash from an 80-year-old man and her own great aunt. Burnley Crown Court heard ex-convict Sarah Ward, 19, and an accomplice had befriended the pensioner. The duo helped him home from the post office
10 years ago A NEW speed camera in Blackburn trapped 100 motorists in its first three hours. Drivers speeding in the 50mph Ramsgreave Drive were fined and those with points on their licence faced a court appearance. Five new cameras, costing £50,000,
A WOMAN was due to face trial today accused of murder. Kelly Hyslop, 19, whose family live in Parker Street, Huncoat, was charged after 28-year-old Mohammed Nadeem was found dead at a house on Commercial Road, Great Harwood. A post-mortem examination
A COMPUTER whizz is waging war against Internet con artists with the new cyber sport of scambaiting. The 41-years-old Atherton computer engineer is turning the tables on the Nigerian sob story merchants whose aim is to obtain money by promising untold
HYNDBURN Council opposition leader Jean Battle has called for a smoking ban in all council buildings. At a full meeting of the council, the leader of the Labour group asked council leader Peter Britcliffe to look at introducing the ban to help people
A WHITEFIELD bank manager and his family are being treated for shock after they were kidnapped at gunpoint and held hostage for 14 hours. The abduction was part of a well-planned raid on the Natwest Bank, Bury New Road, on Wednesday morning (Sept 22)
BUDDING chefs aiming to be the next Jamie Oliver pitted their culinary skills against each other in Barley for TV. A Channel 4 film crew arrived in the village on Saturday to record the first heat in a contest to find the best Lancashire hotpot for a
HE fought with Captain Cook when the explorer was hacked to pieces on the beaches of Hawaii and he fought alongside Horatio Nelson in the West Indies - but his name is still unknown among East Lancashire school children. But more than 200 years after
COYNE: Two blinding saves at vital times in another commanding performance 8 DUFF: Unlucky to be sent off but again looked assured and almost scored 7 CAMARA: Kept Daryl Russell quiet but not able to come forward as much he would have liked 7 McGREAL:
TONY Pulis completely ignored the opening half hour on Saturday to make an astonishing claim. "As a manager for an away team, I've never been involved in such a one-sided game," said the Stoke City boss. Pulis was dismissive of Burnley's two goals despite
BURNLEY are still hoping Michael Duff will get a reprieve to face Cardiff City tomorrow. The Northern Ireland international defender was sent off in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Stoke City at Turf Moor after receiving two yellow cards. However, the Clarets
BURNLEY boss Steve Cotterill was pleased with a point against Stoke despite seeing his side spurn a chance to kill the game off. A brilliant block by Clint Hill prevented Richard Chaplow from making it 3-0 just before the half hour, a scoreline Cotterill
A TEENAGER had a miraculous escape when an industrial firework exploded in his bedroom, causing severe structural damage to his home. Remarkably, 16-year-old Dean Kevill emerged with just cuts and scratches following the incident at his Prestwich home
HALL ROAD 1-2 GREAT HARWOOD GREAT Harwood Town put their league troubles to one side to pick up a confidence-boosting victory in the FA Vase. On a bumpy pitch, Town proved too strong for their Hull-based hosts and were well worth the win according to
Storks blow chance PADIHAM squandered a great opportunity to make progress in this year's FA Vase competition against Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division side Maltby Main at the Arbories on Saturday. Trailing 1-0 to an eighth minute
to bounce back BACUP BOROUGH 6 - 3 TOW LAW TOWN MANAGER Brent Peters took the opportunity of rotating his squad for this game, having just completed our games in nine days. Rested were leading scorers Lee Wilkinson and Darren Emmett, who were named as
BROOKSBOTTOMS' second team brought some end of season joy to the Summerseat club with a tense two run victory over Newton Heath in the Surridge Shield Final. The match, already delayed by 24 hours on account of the wet conditions, took place on Sunday
LANCASHIRE League champions Haslingden have snapped up Radcliffe's Pasan Wanasinghe as their professional for next season. The Central Lancashire League side were unable to offer the 33-year-old a contract to return for a third successive summer for financial
THE Swinton half marathon presented Radcliffe AC's Adrian Harris with yet an other opportunity to demonstrate his improving form in the 2004 Road Race Championship. He took 17th place among the 246 finishers to come in just out of the prizes as fourth
EVER since Jody Banim left Stainton Park for Gay Meadow his return has been predicted, and now it may be about to happen. "Accrington Stanley want to buy Jody from Shrewsbury Town and if it comes off we have agreed with Accrington to take him on loan,
BLACKBURN Rovers head for Charlton tonight hoping to win back-to-back games in the Premiership for the first time in five months. New manager Mark Hughes is looking for his second successive win in the league following his side's 1-0 victory against Portsmouth
BURNLEY are still hoping Michael Duff will get a reprieve to face Cardiff City tomorrow. The Northern Ireland international defender was sent off in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Stoke City at Turf Moor after receiving two yellow cards. However, the Clarets
STAYING with my friend and her two sons last weekend, I spent a good hour poring over the lads' most prized collections. Not fossils, shells or rocks, but Yu-Gi-Oh! (must not forget the exclamation mark) cards. It was mentally exhausting, feigning interest
A TEENAGER is aiming for the Christmas number one spot with a charity single performed by his new band. Rob Sharples, 19, who until recently lived in Crosby Close, Darwen, is part of the three-piece boy band D-RAIL, which also features his former FY8
REDEVELOPMENT proposals for fire-ravaged Whitworth Civic Hall are due to be presented to the community next month. An electrical fault which caused a blaze and gutted the building in December last year. Several proposals are to be discussed at the meeting
Radcliffe Borough 3 Bishop Auckland 2: GARY Sampson's injury-time winner gave Radcliffe Borough their first home Unibond Premier Division victory of the season. Sampson curled in a spectacular winner as Borough came back from 2-1 down to beat 10-man Bishop
A MAN suffered a suspected stab wound to the back of his head after an argument between two groups ended in violence. The 25-year-old man was taken to Blackburn Infirmary after being injured in Reading Close, Audley, at 3.45am yesterday. But the wound
A 22-YEAR-OLD Blackburn man launched a prolonged and brutal attack on his girlfriend when she came home late. Blackburn magistrates heard that Neil James Heap slapped his partner across the face, knocking her to the floor after demanding to know where
FRENCH market traders want to set up in King William Street twice a year after a successful three-day spell in Blackburn. But the town's Chamber of Trade has today warned that taking the continental markets away from Church Street is pushing Blackburn
PARENTS have been told to take more responsibility for the increasing number of children getting involved in drink-fuelled violence. The police warning comes after a 16-year-old girl was glassed in a Blackburn town centre nightclub. A teenage boy was
COUNCIL bosses are to consult residents over a new parking scheme after revealing up to 500 commuters a day are parking in streets to avoid parking charges. Until recently, Blackburn with Darwen Council has refused to introduce residents' parking zones
WOULD-BE actors from across East Lancashire have a chance of stardom at a new studio. The Actors Studio, based at Our Lady and St John's Catholic Arts College, North Road, Blackburn, is being run by actress and teacher Suzanne Hall. A series of drama
ANTI-WAR campaigners gave speeches on the steps of Blackburn town hall -- and blasted their MP Jack Straw over Iraq hostage Kenneth Bigley. They said the decision by George Bush and Tony Blair to go to war in Iraq, which was supported by Foreign Secretary
JOHN Coleman admitted that Saturday's defeat didn't taste as bitter as the two points his side threw away at Northwich Victoria. The Accrington Stanley manager was disappointed to witness only the Reds' second defeat of the season. But he was boosted
Stanley 1-2 Gravesend & Northfleet JOHN Coleman's lip must still be smarting today. The Accrington Stanley boss has made a vow to himself to no longer speak to, or about, match officials after getting into hot water last term. So how hard he must
Caretaker boss Billy Davies has been handed the reigns at Deepdale, on a permanent basis, after impressing the Preston board since taking over at the end of August. North End have won four of the last six games with Davies at the helm and he has been
IT'S proving a tough baptism for Sedgley Park after their lost their fourth successive Division One game on Saturday, beaten 28-8 at home by Otley. Full report later
IT'S proving a tough baptism for Sedgley Park after they lost their fourth successive National League One game on Saturday, beaten 28-8 at home by Otley. Full report later
KARATE kids Daniel Openshaw and Rebekah Thorley are kicking their way to the top after representing England in the World Amateur Kick Boxing Karate Championships. Rebekah (12), from Walshaw, brought home a bronze medal and Daniel (13), who lives in Brandlesholme
FIRE chiefs were on Monday accused of breaching health and safety rules over the death of a fireman when a rescue went tragically wrong. Sub-officer Paul Metcalf drowned during an attempt to rescue 15-year-old Reyaz Ali at Simon's Lodge at Holcombe Brook
