AFTER reading about the impending closure of the YMCA in Blackburn I was left feeling deeply upset as it is part of our heritage. I was one of the many teens that often visited the YMCA back in the seventies and eighties. It was a rite of passage for
A BOY, aged 14, has denied raping a woman at knifepoint as she walked home through woodland in Leigh. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied the offence, which is alleged to have occurred between June 3 and 6 last year. Judge Henry Globe
The Andy Payton column WHAT better way to start the year than seeing a Premiership giant roll up at Turf Moor? Liverpool arrive with a reputation, but not necessarily the resources they have had in recent history. No-one would ever accuse them of being
A COUPLE who were missing and feared dead in Sri Lanka are safe and well and are helping with the relief effort, it was revealed today. The family of Shaw and Val Lingham also revealed how relatives had been targeted by tsunami email hoaxer Christopher
Blackburn have seen an improved offer for Robbie Savage rejected as they continue in their chase for the Welsh International. Birmingham are believed to want in the region of £3.5million for the midfielder, who signed a new four-year contract in the summer
UNDERCOVER police are taking to the buses in a bid to stamp out juvenile crime on public transport in Burnley. Last month bus company bosses refused to let vehicles travel to Briercliffe after reports that youths were preparing to stone vehicles at the
A COUPLE who were missing and feared dead in Sri Lanka are safe and well and are helping with the relief effort, it was revealed today. The family of Shaw and Val Lingham also revealed how relatives had been targeted by tsunami email hoaxer Christopher
POLICE were today continuing to probe two sex attacks in East Lancashire. In the latest incident a sex fiend bundled a woman into a car and seriously assaulted her as she returned home from celebrating the New Year. The woman, 23, was walking home along
FOOTBALL chiefs today revealed they were investigating how an alleged fracas led to a match involving Nelson FC being abandoned. And they said they were awaiting reports before deciding if they should take action against players and officials at the club
WHILE I have a deep sympathy for the players and managers at football clubs at this time of year having to cope with four games in 10 days on their thousands of pound a week, I have to say that it's a great time for fans. Wall-to-wall football might be
THE owners of a farm in Oswaldtwistle want to convert a barn so that it can be used to house their parcel delivery business. Mr and Mrs Peach, of Magnolls Farm, Haslingden Old Road, also want to turn a milking parlour into a house, and a third building
ACCRINGTON Stanley are joining the tsunami relief effort gathering pace across East Lancashire by holding a charity match to raise vital cash. The club is looking for opponents to play on Saturday, January 29, in aid of the Tsunami Disaster Fund as there
GENEROUS villagers have come up with a sizzling idea to raise money for victims of last week's tsunami - selling bacon butties. Residents in four Ribble Valley villages - Dunsop Bridge, Newton-by-Bowland, Slaidburn and Tosside - wanted to help the international
EAST Lancashire's farmers have labelled Eurocrats as "puddled" for introducing a system of fines for driving tractors on soggy land. The new EU directive, which came into force on January 1, means farmers will lose part of their subsidy if so-called '
BURNLEY became a ghost town in April 1914 as the club laid claim to its only FA Cup final victory to date. King George V became the first reigning monarch to attend a final, handing the famous old trophy to Clarets skipper Tommy Boyle following a hard-fought
BURNLEY 1 LIVERPOOL 0 Milk Cup semi-final 2nd leg Turf Moor FEBRUARY 15, 1983 'THE night Burnley gave the rest of English football a lesson in how to beat all-conquering Liverpool'. Not a blinkered Burnley belief - but the opinion of European Cup winning
MICHAEL Duff is fighting a race against time in an oxygen tank to be fit for Burnley's FA Cup third round clash with Liverpool. The Clarets defender is spending the week undergoing specialist treatment on the calf strain he suffered during Monday's 1-
NORTH West Counties League Division Two side Padiham are hoping that former members, players, officials and friends of the club - along with current supporters - will back their scheme to raise funds. The Storks need cash to allow officials to continue
BLACKBURN Rovers today hit back at criticism that they only made a "marginally improved" bid to buy Robbie Savage. Birmingham City made the claim in a statement yesterday after turning down a second bid from Rovers for the want-away Welsh midfielder.
HOSPITAL bosses have launched an investigation into the death of a baby boy who died while staff were trying to deliver him on Christmas Day. Baby Damon Yates, whose mother lives in Lynwood Avenue, Darwen, died at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, at
A CAR was destroyed after being set alight in Radcliffe. Firefighters were called to the burning Subaru Impreza in Hill Street, off Ainsworth Road, at 3.30am. It is believed the car was deliberately set alight.
A TRUCK full of aid was today due to leave for tsuanmi-hit Sri Lanka from an East Lancashire charity after an 'overwhelming' response from the public. And International Aid, run by East Lancashire man Bernard Cocker, said another four trucks have been
COUNCIL staff have been ordered to delete personal emails from their work PCs after joke pictures began slowing down vital computer systems. Blackburn with Darwen Council ordered the purge of personal emails just weeks before new rules governing the release
UP TO 70 jobs are set to be axed from East Lancashire's hospitals as bosses struggle to balance their books. The losses, including senior managers, administration and clerical, registered and unregistered nurses, are being earmarked as part of a reorganisation
TEENAGE mum Carley Treagust slammed a charity's advice pack on abortions saying she may never have had her beloved son if she had read the leaflet. Her views added to criticism of the Government's sex education policies as it battles to reduce high teenage
TRADERS feared the worst in the run-up to Christmas as slow levels of consumer spending prompted concern about profits. So how did it go? As the sales rush began to slow down, we re-visited seven town centres in East Lancashire to find out whether the
BUOYANT Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has urged his side to use their new-found confidence to cement a play-off place. Stanley came from behind to beat play-off rivals Halifax Town on Monday - the first time this season they have recovered from
BLACKBURN "Sleeping Beauty," King George's Hall, Northgate. Until January 9. Blackburn Citadel Over-55s Club, Salvation Army Citadel, Vicar Street, 1.45pm. Speaker: Dorothy Gertson. Cyber Drop-In, 9.30am-11.30am; Parents and Tots, 1.30pm-3.30pm; Out of
THE financial crisis facing East Lancashire's hospitals is becoming increasingly worrying. Last April the trust which runs the region's hospitals, revealed it had debts of £3.9million at the end of its first financial year. A plan was announced to make
I REFER to J Eaves letter (LET, December 24) about the QLRs, and an old friend of mine from ROF days. Not too long ago, past and present governments decimated ordnance factories up and down the country leaving British forces to use sub-standard equipment
L LAWES finds reasons to denounce Christian belief (LET, December 24) and urges the end to teaching of all faiths in schools. The writer advocates the re-emergence of paganism especially the pre-Christian Roman Saturnalia. As an atheist, how can L Lawes
ACCORDING to a report (LET, December 30), a record number of offences are being brought to justice in the county. Figures show there were more than 33,000 'sanctioned' detections in the county in the year to November 30. It would be interesting to know
UP TO 70 jobs are set to be axed from East Lancashire's hospitals as bosses struggle to balance their books. The losses, including senior managers, administration and clerical, registered and unregistered nurses, are being earmarked as part of a reorganisation
DAVID Thompson has revealed how happy he is to be back doing what he does best. And that's not just setting up goals like he did for Brett Emerton's winner against Charlton on Monday - it's winding up his team-mates as well. "It was a good cross and Brett
BLACKBURN Rovers today hit back at criticism that they only made a "marginally improved" bid to buy Robbie Savage. Birmingham City made the claim in a statement yesterday after turning down a second bid from Rovers for the want-away Welsh midfielder.
THERE'S a unit of four player stretching across the pitch that is the key to Blackburn's current success. But it's not the defence I'm talking about - it's the midfield quartet in front of them. As a defender, I know that if you don't have a midfield
DETECTIVES were today investigating a report of an early morning street robbery in Burnley town centre. Police received a complaint from a man who said he was mugged in an alleyway behind the White Lion pub, off Parker Lane. He alleged he was walking
UNDERCOVER police are taking to the buses in a bid to stamp out juvenile crime in Burnley. The new scheme - Operation Travelsafe - will see local police officers travelling on bus services in uniform and plain clothes to deter youths from disrupting services
A FIRE chief today urged people who live near empty houses to get free fire safety checks carried out on their homes after a blaze at an unoccupied terrace house in Burnley. The blaze badly damaged the house in Piccadilly Road and smoke spread through
A JUDGE told a court she did not approve after hearing a man who smashed a victim's cheekbone would not be prosecuted for assault. Philip Hodgkinson, 36, is awaiting sentence after admitting threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour last June
NELSON'S flagship Wilkinson store is due to open in February. A family fun day is planned for the grand opening at Pendle Rise Shopping Centre. The company, which sells discount household goods, is busy recruiting staff for its new shop, one of 245 across
VOLUNTEERS from Nelson are preparing to fly out to Indonesia to help with the aid effort. Charity Muslim Global Relief is sending a team to the stricken country, where 80,000 people are thought to have died. As well as two volunteers, the organisation
NELSON residents are trying to get a bus shelter removed because it is 'more abused than used'. People living in Walton Lane claim the refuge at the corner of Marsden Hall Road is a focal point for large groups of youngsters who intimidate residents.
AN East Lancashire man remains in a critical condition several days after an explosion at a car repair workshop. Police have named the three men who suffered serious burns in the blast at John Macadam and Son, North Valley Road, Colne, at 7.45am last
SO FAREWELL, Robbie Blake. On the plus side, Burnley's coffers will be boosted by a record £1.25m. In a depressed transfer market, the club have done well to make what amounts to a £250,000 on the player, plus any add-ons which will take fee higher. Oh
THE LANDLADY of a Hyndburn pub which suffered a fire yesterday has reassured her customers that the pub will remain open. And Sally Sutton remained so optimistic, she even joked about the situation by adding 'ash' browns to her menu. Staff at the Griffin
A TAXI journey of just a few feet cost a 22-year-old Accrington man £200, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that disqualified driver Nazam Hussain got behind the wheel of a taxi and moved it a few feet to allow another car out of its parking
A NIGHTCLUB owner accused of allowing drugs to be supplied on his premises has denied he knew what was going on. Anthony Ian Jackson said there was no truth whatsoever in any suggestions that he turned a blind eye to any dealing at Monroes in Great Harwood
HEALTH bosses have said "thanks a million" to a former Bury family on the official opening of Fairfield Hospital's new education centre. A bequest of £1 million was made in memory of Syd Palmer, who worked in Bury for 22 years from the 1940s to the 1960s
TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular mayors' secretary and charity worker who died suddenly after a short battle with cancer. As an administrative assistant for Clitheroe Town Council, Christine Thomspon, 54, was secretary to the town's last three mayors
MICHAEL Duff is fighting a race against time in an oxygen tank to be fit for Burnley's FA Cup third round clash with Liverpool. The Clarets defender is spending the week undergoing specialist treatment on the calf strain he suffered during Monday's 1-
A MISSING walker today prompted a massive search of Darwen's Sunnyhurst Wood by mountain rescue teams and specialist police officers. Francis Perkins, 59, of St Alban's Road, Darwen, was dropped off at the beauty spot in the town yesterday afternoon to
A HEART attack victim today revealed how he had given up 45 cups of tea and 35 cigarettes a day in a bid to save his life. Darwen councillor Frank Connor, 57, who represents the Marsh House ward, is now urging others to do the same before it is too late
YOUNG Rossendale swimmers will be meeting Tony the Tiger at an Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) awards presentation. Tony, who is the ASA's mascot, will be greeting youngsters who train at Marl Pits in Rawtenstall and Haslingden swimming pools. The
PEOPLE across East Lancashire will hold a three-minute silence tomorrow as a mark of respect for the thousands who died in the tsunami disaster. Town hall flags will fly at half mast in the morning before the silence at noon. Blackburn with Darwen Council
A BLACKBURN Royal British Legion member has been inundated with letters from across the globe after a Lancashire Evening Telegraph appeal to help find veterans eligible for a new commemorative badge. Club secretary Des Owen said he was thrilled with the
A HEADTEACHER from Bury was found hanging at his home by his 11-year-old son. Fifty-year-old Michael Buczynski, who was head of Parklands High School, Wythenshawe, died after he was discovered unconscious at his home on Trimingham Drive, Bury. He was
