ONE of East Lancashire's largest employers has been put up for sale, sparking fears for workers' futures. Dutch firm Akzo Nobel, which employs about 650 people at its Crown Paints manufacturing site in Darwen, is on the verge of taking over rival chemicals
THE family of a charity worker murdered while working in India a year ago today fear the trail for his killer has gone cold. And they said that the past 12 months had been a nightmare and they were still no closer to finding out who had killed their
THE Darwen road system could have potentially dangerous consequences for road users,' police have said. Sergeant Mick Young, from the area's road policing unit, came up with his verdict after visiting the town to analyse the controversial new system
A NEW business directory has been launched giving information on more than 1,100 companies. The Blackburn with Darwen Business Directory 2007 includes information on manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, high technology companies, commercial and
Readers might like to know that two new businesses have recently opened in Haslingden. The "Valley Foot Clinic" has been set up in Warner Street and the "Super Pound Store" is open on Higher Deardegate. More detailed information will follow when available
A MARRIED father had more than 5,000 child porn images - some of primary school age pupils - on his computer, a court heard. David Pugh, 60, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court yesterday on numerous accounts of making and possessing indecent photos
A FORMER East Lancashire cricket professional is facing deportation despite living in the UK for the last 29 years. Hartley Alleyne, who used to play for both Colne and Haslingden, could be forced to leave the country after the Home Office refused to
AN environmental charity has announced plans to start up four new green businesses to help fund its work. The Prospects Foundation, which is based in Hyndburn, hopes to have the first business up and running within 18 months. Ellie Taylor from the
COUNTY councillors have rebutted claims that Pendle's highways office will close under reorganisation plans. Councillors hit out, saying proposals will spell the end of the office based at Linden House, Colne. The county council said that it was looking
A BURNLEY company has admitted health and safety charges after the death of a 17-year-old trainee scaffolder. Steven Burke, fell almost 50 feet from scaffolding which health and safety inspectors said was too dangerous to climb. He suffered fatal head
A VILLAGE church is offering a taste of Christmas past - after a parishoner uncovered a 200-year-old recipe. Clare Harding, who goes to St Peter's Church, Lovely Hall Lane, Salesbury, is making Christmas puddings from the Victorian poet's recipe which
FAMILY and friends of tragic Sophie Lancaster remembered her on what would have been her 21st birthday. Sophie died after being attacked in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, and 21 black balloons were released at a memorial concert held at St Mary's Chambers, Rawtenstall
A GANG of three targeted two teenagers for their mobile phones, a court heard. And one of the members is starting an eight-month term of detention. Basha Ullah, 21, had attacked a 15-year-old girl playing in the snow with her friends in Haslingden,
A LANDLORD was hit with a chair by yobs unhappy at his efforts to stamp out trouble at his pub, police said. They also smashed several windows after the "nasty incident" in the Golden Cross Inn, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, at 7.30pm on Sunday. Licensee
Andrew Clelland 10 from Longton who has been attending the event since he was five. He won the memorised Verse and the Solo Drama Award.
Chris Harrison 18 from Kelbrook, sophie Greenwood 13 from Barnoldswick, Judge Julia Dewhurst, Sinead McLaughlin from Barnoldswick and Megan Rowlandson from Trawden who all entered the Folk Song (up to 18 years) Category.
Georgia Smith 10 from Bacup who sang "Over the Hills" in the Girls and Boys Solo category (under 10's)
Nicholas Howley from Padiham who came first and Rachel Howarth from Bacup who came second in the Pianoforte Recital Class (up to and including 18 years), and Natalie Howley from Padiham who won the pianoforte (up to 12 years)
THE historic former market hall in Bacup is up for auction - at a starting price of £350,000. Hurstwood Group is selling the vacant grade II listed property at an Old Trafford auction on December 6. The property, at the junction of Lord Street and Bank
A POLICE staff member has been sacked after she attacked a women in a road rage incident. Blackburn magistrates heard how two women drivers were involved in a 15-minute stand-off when they both drove onto a narrow bridge at the same time. But when
CORONATION Street actress Tina O'Brien has certainly had her fair share of juicy storylines playing Sarah Louise Platt. She's been a gymslip mum, a victim of chatroom grooming, left for dead in a joyriding car crash and almost killed by her step-dad
THE writer of television show Shameless has described how he was sectioned after attempting suicide in a letter of support for a sacked mental health nurse. Paul Abbott, who is originally from Burnley, wrote the letter to Karen Reissmann, who was dismissed
THIS week, Clive said I'd get a free haircut if I mentioned him in my column, which is remarkable because, although my barber's not Scottish in his ancestry he tends to be in his cash registry. Jesus never had this trouble. What with the then Jewish
HUNDREDS of trees have been planted in Witton Country Park, Blackburn, by people on community service orders as part of National Tree Week. Lancashire Probation Service supervised the planting of hazel and gelder rose saplings across the park. It
A PRIMARY school in Burnley has been given a boost by education watchdogs during a time of considerable change. Classes at St Augustine's RC Primary, Lowerhouse Lane, have been swelled by the arrival of a number of traveller children in recent months
POLICE have come up with a reel-y good way of stopping youths from committing anti-social behaviour. Officers in the Bank Hall area of Burnley are organising fishing lessons for youngsters in a bid to get them off the streets. The 'fishing' initiative
A BURGLAR spotted climbing through a window of a house in Nelson told the victims he had never done anything like it before - but he had a long record, a court was told. Now James McCool is starting a 29-month prison sentence. Burnley Crown Court heard
GONORRHOEA cases identified in East Lancashire have increased seven-fold in the last 10 years and chlamydia cases have increased five-fold. East Lancashire Primary Care Trust is now expanding its genito-urinary medicine (GUM) programme, with increased
AN airline pilot, sacked for allowing Blackburn Rovers star Robbie Savage into his cockpit, has lost an appeal to get his job back. Captain Pablo Mason was fired by Helmshore-based MyTravel after he allowed the midfielder on to the flight deck to calm
AT the end of a black week for English football, a man repeatedly overlooked by Steve McClaren came riding to Blackburn Rovers' rescue. One of the great mysteries of the McClaren era, certainly as far as Blackburn fans are concerned, was: why was Stephen
RESIDENTS have lost a battle to prevent an historic hotel in Nelson being bulldozed to make way for a care home. The hotel, which dates from 1870, faces demolition under proposals by Great Marsden Residential Ltd and City View Estates. Blueprints for
YOUNG high-flyers met with prospective employers at an event designed to make sure East Lancashire keeps hold of its home-grown talent. Blackburn's St Mary's College organised the Example: Leadership Challenge, to harness the leadership skills of some
AN 18-year-old girl who had been to a party in Hoddlesden climbed into the driver's seat and sped off after a row with the taxi driver who was taking her and her friends home. Blackburn magistrates heard Victoria Myerscough left the taxi driver and one
MANY of life's relationships are built on first impressions. You can sense, already, that the bond between Burnley and Owen Coyle will be strong. The new manager only met his players a little over 24 hours before the game against Stoke City, but he
AN HGV transporting cows caught fire on the A59 outside BAe Systems at Samlesbury. Police said a wheel blew out and the friction caused sparks that set the main carriage alight. The driver, who was unharmed, released the cows from the carriage and the
SANDY Stewart has decided to follow new Burnley manager Owen Coyle to East Lancashire and become his number two. Following Coyle's move to Turf Moor from St Johnstone last week, Stewart, his assistant at McDiarmid Park, stayed behind to help take charge
On Saturday the 60th annual week-long festival was launched at Colne Municipal Hall. A concert marked the launch featuring Pendle Youth Orchestra. There are many things taking place over the week, with music, verse and drama recitals. The festival
Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes launched a thinly-veiled attack at referee, Mike Dean, claiming both of Fulham goals should have been chalked off. "We were disappointed with the goals that we conceded," said the Rovers boss after the 2-2 draw.
LANCASHIRE County Council has been given lottery funding to help preserve its historic records. The council has used the Heritage Lottery cash to take on a trainee who will care for its birth, death and marriage certificates, church documents, land
Someone approached me in the supermarket the other day. Unfortunately, it wasn't the sort of approach most women my age long for (tall, dark, handsome man, with offer of country house, Caribbean holidays and lifelong devotion), but a woman asking whether
THE 60th annual Luther Greenwood Memorial Festival is underway. On Saturday the week-long event was launched with a concert at Colne Municipal Hall featuring Pendle Youth Orchestra, with soloists Megan Rowlandson-King, Gavin Wiseman, Charis Deighton
A NEW £250,000 medical unit has been opened during a festive spectacular at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Edenfield. The state-of-the-art facility was opened by sanctuary president and BBC Radio Lancashire presenter Ted Robbins, along with Lancashire's
BACUP Borough were reduced to 10 men as they were beaten in Cheshire. The hosts took the lead on 22 minutes through Ross Kennedy. Winsford added a second from the penalty spot, in which Bacup's Chris Cooper was sent off for bringing down Phil Mason.
Nelson's home fixture with Trafford was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch.
Darwen consolidated eighth place in the Vodkat League with a hard fought win. The Salmoners opened the scoring in the 12th minute. A ball was put through the Stone defenders, and Reece Rowinski raced into the gap, gathered the ball, and advanced towards
NEIL Hart suffered his first defeat as Ramsbottom manager as United were thrashed by Formby. The Rams played very poorly in atrocious conditions and deserved to go down by four goals. Paul Lamb gave Formby a one-goal half-time lead, before Steve Cavanagh
The next meeting of the Barrowford's Over 50's Club takes place at the Civic Hall on Thursday 29 November. Teh speaker this time is Miss Annie Birtwell, of Alderley Edge. Miss Birtwell will be talking about her work in Borneo with the endangered
The Stags left themselves with too much to do at a damp Dark Lane. Blake Norton gave Wakefield the lead on nine minutes and Chris Howarth doubled their lead just before the break. United improved after the interval, with Daniels reducing the deficit
AS a spectacle, this Vodkat North West Counties clash was awful. Wind, rain and a pitch inches deep in mud meant decent football never had a chance. Cheadle were mentally and physically stronger than the Storks, and deserved the points thanks to two
A YOUNG-LOOKING Colne turned in one of their best performances of the campaign to destroy Abbey Hey. The visitors lined up with three strikers - Kevin Langley, Kevin Urwin and Liam Garbutt - and the system worked a treat. From the start, Colne tore
NEW Burnley manager Owen Coyle says his players did enough to get his Clarets' career off to a winning start. Burnley, who played in a pale blue and white striped kit to mark their 125th anniversary, dominated for long periods at home to Stoke City and
WITH reference to the discussion about Darwen Mayoral chain. Councillor Rigby well knows that the money for the chain was raised by public subscription by the people of Darwen. The chain does not belong to Blackburn and never did. It was not our fault
I AM writing a letter of thanks to the A&E staff at Royal Blackburn Hospital. On November 13 I had an accident at home which required stitches and so I visited the A&E at Blackburn. Before my wife had parked the car (about five minutes) I was receiving
WE are told that the crime rate is down. One only has to read this paper and every night it is full of crime, mugging, burglary, arson, car crime and con-people. And it will get worse, as our prisons become full. It is no good giving these perpetrators
SO Blackburn with Darwen wants to grab part of our green belt to meet the "Aspirations of the Pennine Lancashire transformational agenda in providing strategic sites for high value employment" (LT, November 14). This at a time when our country is managing
Inspired goalkeeping by Paul Horridge against his old club ensured that Clitheroe shared the spoils with a feisty Chorley side in a sizzling local 'derby' at Victory Park. Not that the Blues were outplayed, for they had their moments in a fascinating
ACCRINGTON STANLEY manager John Coleman hailed his side after they contained Hereford United to a 0-0 draw at Edgar Street. "I don't think many teams will come here and keep a clean sheet," said Coleman. "With the amount of goals Hereford have scored
Deja-vu was in the air at Edgar Street as Accrington Stanley played out a goalless draw with Hereford United to go unbeaten in their last five away games. The last time the Reds finished with a 0-0 scoreline in a league game was back in April 2005 at
FULHAM boss Lawrie Sanchez admitted he aspired to see his side emulate Blackburn Rovers. The sides shared a point at Craven Cottage yesterday and Sanchez said: "Blackburn are an excellent side. "One day I would like to be in the same situation as them
THE face of Darwen is changing, perhaps not always for the better you may think. But in, say, 50 years, how will folk know how the town looks today? Probably the same way that we know how it looked 50 and 100 years ago - largely through photographs
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Ok, so maybe the call of the town crier is a bit more complicated than that. Tomorrow will be your chance to experience the bellowing voice of Mr. Peter Cornwell, Great Harwood's Town Crier. Tomorrow, Tuesday, is Lancashire Day
JASON Roberts hopes he has finally put his injury problems behind him after he helped rescue a point for Blackburn Rovers at Fulham yesterday. The former Wigan striker, who was back in the squad for the first time in two months, proved to be his side's
A FORMER mayoress of Darwen has celebrated her 100th birthday. Gladys Briggs, of Ratcliffe Street, Darwen, was mayoress in 1954/55 when her husband, Norman, was mayor. She turned 100 on November 15 and celebrated with a meal at the Whitehall Country
AN EAST Lancashire business support group, which has given hundreds of local entrepreneurs advice on how they can grow their businesses, has celebrated reaching a key milestone. Mayes Business Partnership of Accrington held its 50th Business Builder
PENGUINS triumphed over wizards last night when Happy Feet won this year's Bafta Children's Award for best feature film. The Antarctic animated musical beat off competition from Flushed Away, Bridge to Terabithia, and the latest JK Rowling adaptation
A Lancashire member of the European Parliament has defected from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservative Party. Sajjad Karim, who sits in Brussels for the North West, said Tory leader David Cameron's recent comments about immigration had persuaded
Burnley boss Owen Coyle has revealed he is aiming to appoint an assistant manager early this week, with Sandy Stewart - his number two at St Johnstone - believed to be his favoured target. Stewart took caretaker charge of St Johnstone's Challenge Cup
The Californian alt-rockers' 2004 debut finally gets a UK release, and it was certainly worth waiting for. Vocally and musically akin to The Smashing Pumpkins' earlier, better days, Silversun Pickups do draw on enough other influences to avoid the
A chipper three minutes of jagged guitar action from the hotly-tipped London four-piece. The lyrics would appear to concern one of the Good Shoes lads' old classmates - a certain Keira Knightley - but fear not, celeb-phobics, this is a catchy, high
THE second instalment of East Lancashire's big weekend of comedy saw another major name and another sold out show at King George's Hall. Frankie Boyle may have only been on stage for just over the hour but he left a lasting impression on all who were
