VULNERABLE disabled people in NHS care homes in East Lancashire were the victims of "disturbing and systematic" abuse by carers, a shock report has found. A five-month investigation by an independent team found that clients were being physically restrained
SANDY Stewart has revealed why he turned down the opportunity to replace Owen Coyle as manager of St Johnstone and instead become his assistant at Burnley. Stewart ended his spell at McDiarmid Park soon after leading the Saints to their Challenge Cup
MAN mountain Mark Felix has been awarded an honourary black belt diploma by the Masters of Martial Arts Academy. The Rishton-based strongman, who finished in fourth place in last year's World Strongest Man competition, received the honour at a recent
VIOLENT pub-goers in Lancashire have been warned they will face exclusion orders if they cause trouble this festive season. Officers at Lancashire Police have launched a crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in the run up to Christmas as part
AN ACCRINGTON woman who said she received burns while evacuating a plane that caught fire in Islamabad is suing the airline for damages. Saiyea Bi, 25, said she had been on a return flight to Birmingham when one of the engines on the Pakistan International
COUNCIL chiefs are spending nearly three times more on Blackburn than on Darwen, the Lancashire Telegraph can reveal. But Darwen residents have considerably more spent on them per head than their counterparts in Blackburn. The figures, obtained using
Lancashire have confirmed the signing of 23 year old South African batsman Francois du Plessis on a 6-month contract from April 2008. Du Plessis is currently playing for the Nashua Titans and has a growing reputation as one of South Africa's future stars
A REAL sign of the times has appeared in an East Lancashire street. A letting agent has put up a to-let sign outside a property in Darwen written purely in Polish. Since 2004 when the country was admitted to the European Union it is thought that
TWO men have been charged with growing cannabis after police executed warrants in the Trinity area. Police charged Steven Jackson and Anthony Smith, 37, of Bevington Close, Burnley, with producing a class C drug. Jackson, 43, of Westmorland Street,
Clitheroe writing group is looking for contributions for its 2008 anthology. Up to three poems or short stories up to 1500 words can be sent to Judy Sowter at 10 Whalley Old Road, York, Langho, Blackburn, BB6 8DU, or judy.sowter@btinternet.com. Closing
PETER Hughes has been fortunate enough to have travelled the world through his rugby connections. Whether as an international referee, an RFU official or simply as a fan, Hughes has had his passport stamped in no fewer than 37 different countries. He
ROSSENDALE continued their impressive form after picking up two more points on their travels to Cumbria. And the Marl Pits side showed they know how to win ugly as the rain and wind made sure if was a scrappy affair. Once again, it was Dale's forwards
A drug addict who went on a lead-stealing expedition with an accomplice was found on the roof of a mill by police. Christopher Hardman, 33, had been taking 90mls of methadone, a £10 rock of cocaine and £20 worth of other drugs a day and had been a user
POLICE have warned homeowners to be on their guard after an elderly woman found an intruder in her kitchen in Barrowford. Officers said the 61-year-old woman was faced with a man when she walked into her kitchen, in Gisburn Road, on last Friday afternoon
HUNDREDS of would-be allotment holders are being left disappointed because of the poor state of the plots in their borough. A recent clamour for allotments has swelled the waiting list in Hyndburn to 500, but almost half are unusable, with vandals and
Paul Jewell has appointed former Burnley manager Stan Ternent to his Derby backroom staff. His official role has not yet been specified, but he will be helping out new manager Jewell on team matters. Jewell said: "Stan was my coach at Bradford and he
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice is backing plans for a Post Office Christmas Savings Club which will be available at all branches from January next year. The MP said: "It is important that people have a secure and convenient way to save for a debt-free Christmas
BUDDING actors at Stonyhurst College had some expert tuition from a West End star. Pupils taking part in the college's production of Les Miserables were given some tips by an original member of the London cast. Peter Polycarpou, who has performed major
COMPLAINTS investigation records showed staff were often suspended, only to be re-instated at another house under the previous management, the report said. No records were available, however, to allow the team to trace whether the tenants, relatives
MPS, health watchdog and a learning disabled charity were united in outrage at the abuse exposed in the report. David Congdon, head of campaigns and policy at learning disability charity Mencap, said: "This report highlights yet another failure to fulfil
PLANS have been un-veiled to open a new supermarket in Colne creating 350 full and part-time jobs. Sainsbury's are hoping to open a 45,000sq ft store with parking for over 400 cars on the former Coach Antiques site in Windsor Street, next to North Valley
A BAG belonging to a Second World War soldier which was lost 65 years ago has been found by a tour guide in Egypt. Irene Porter, 75, of Brunshaw Avenue, Burnley, was amazed when she was told that her brother Alex Ross's army bag had been discovered near
A Burnley man has appeared in court following an incident outside the Key Street bar, Lowergate, Clitheroe, when a man suffered a damaged larynx after being hit in the throat with a golf club. David John Jackson, 18, of Airdrie Crescent, was sent in
A PASSER-by who shouted abuse at a police officer issuing a fixed penalty to a young woman found himself on the wrong side of the law. Blackburn magistrates heard Stuart Sedgwick refused to leave as instructed by the officer. In the course of being
A FORMER Haslingden High School pupil has been appointed the new manager of finance at an Accrington company. Catherine Horrocks took up her new post at Springhill Care Group just a fortnight before her 40th birthday but quickly settled in when a surprise
A BRIERFIELD high school last night celebrated the achievements of staff and students for the previous 12 months. Staff and pupils at Marsden Heights Community School, Elland Road, Brierfield, were joined by the Mayor of Pendle, Coun Allan Buck, and
COMPLAINTS about Lancashire County Council have doubled in the last year, it has been revealed. In its annual letter to the county council, the Local Government Ombudsman says it received 102 complaints about the local authority for the 12 months between
THE Busy Bees at St Margaret's in Hapton raised more than £150 during their sing-along last Thursday for Children in Need. The Mother and Toddler Group meets each Thursday from 9.15am to 11am.
TRUSTEES of the Arbories Memorial Sports Ground held their AGM at Padiham Sports Club. In the meeting following the AGM, it was decided to hold a special event at the Town Hall to celebrate 60 years of sport in Padiham at the Arbories. The event will
THE centenary of Todmorden Hippodrome next year has been marked by a new book, which charts its 100-year history. From starting life as a professional theatre in 1908, the Hippodrome is traced through two world wars, its many years as a cinema, being
A POPULAR singer has died after a long battle with cancer. Peter Morris, 73, of Westbourne Avenue South, Burnley, died on Friday November 23 after a six-year long battle with bowel cancer. Mr Morris was a well-known singer who was a member of Nelson
A CRIMINAL who helped himself to free electricity from a by-passed meter claimed he did not know how to contact the suppliers. Burnley magistrates heard how Gavin Thomas, 29, was on a community order with a curfew. He had a record mostly for theft and
MARK Hughes pointed an accusing finger at referee Phil Dowd and his two assistants after Blackburn Rovers slumped to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa last night. The angry Rovers boss felt the officials got a number of key decisions wrong as
The £5 million Number One centre opposite Nelson Town Hall was officially opened. The centre will play a big part in the town's re-birth, bringing 300 jobs to Nelson. Pictured (left to right) are Tim Webber (Barnfield Construction MD), Coun David
A 46-year-old woman involved in a drink-fuelled row with her partner had sauce poured over her clothes after they had been thrown out of the house, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard Bridget Sculpher was given a "good slap" for good measure
A CONVICTED drug dealer on three bags of heroin a day has custody of her grandson with social services approval, a court heard. June Lillian Rickwood, 40, served six years for her part in a "commercial" operation and still had a £25-a-day habit which
A MAN who believed his ex-brother-in-law was responsible for pouring battery acid or paint stripper on his car armed himself with a spade and went looking for revenge. Blackburn magistrates heard Kenneth Lindly Hardy intended attacking the other man's
A WIND farm developer is appealing against a council's decision to refuse planning permission for three turbines. London-based developers Coronation Power submitted a planning application for three wind turbines on the moors in Reaps Moss in Bacup.
A man who admitted taking the handbangs of two elderly and vulnerable women has been warned to expect a custodial sentence. One of Philip O'Dea's victim was 62 and on a motorized scooter when her bag was taken. O'Dea, 29 of Blackburn Road, Accrington
THE Whitehall Hotel, in Darwen, is celebrating after a member of staff won a prestigious tourism award. Duncan Gill, 40, who has worked at the Ross Street hotel as a kitchen porter for 20 years, won the Unsung Hero award at the Lancashire Excellence
A GIRL who claims she was raped was "too groggy" after drinking alcohol to remember what happened, the accused man's defence team claimed. The 14-year-old was so drunk that she had vomited in a car, in a toilet and in her Blackpool hotel bedroom before
A 31-year-old man attacked his wife after she complained about him leaving some hair oil on the table, which one of the children had spilled. Blackburn magistrates heard Shabir Ali Asghar slapped his wife eight or nine times before he was dragged off
DANCERS are being offered a final spin round the floor at a historic ballroom due to close this weekend. Sanderson's Dance and Fitness Centre based at Tony's Ballroom in Town Hall Street, Blackburn is relocating to new premises on Saturday. The dance
THE centre of Whalley will be closed to traffic on Thursday, December 6, for the village's annual Pickwick Night. King Street will close between Station Road and Accrington Road from 5.30 to 9pm for the event. Only accident and emergency vehicles
TRIBUTES were paid at a school's awards evening to a pupil who died suddenly last month. Football-mad Rebecca Duxbury, 13, was found dead in her bed. At Darwen Vale High School's awards evening for pupils in Years eight and 10 last night, headteacher
A ROAD safety group has received two prestigious awards. Lancashire County Council's Road Safety Group has been recognised by Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards for their achievement and innovation in two pioneering schemes. The first award
A WOMAN glassed an ex-love rival in a pub but could not remember the attack as was so drunk. Karen Bottomley, 27, was said to have told police she had about 10 bottles of alcopop or similar before she attacked Lisa Thompson in the Bridge Inn in Accrington
Ben Lindsay has earned automatic selection for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Cross Country Team after finishing third in the under 20s trial race. The 19-year old from Brierfield was appearing at Sefton Park, Liverpool in the biggest meeting
RESIDENTS will get the chance to see plans for a "greenway" along a former railway line on Monday. The derelict former train line between Great Harwood and Burnley railway has been identified as a site for improvement under the REMADE in Lancashire land
Well I can't say I didn't try! Following my attempts earlier this week to put aside old rivalries and lend some support to our struggling neighbours Burnley, by proposing the National Trust take over Turf Moor as a Grade 2 Listed Building, the response
POLICE have appealed for witnesses after a woman was found injured but unable to remember what happened. The woman in her 40s was found dazed and confused sitting down behind Oliver's General Store in New Hall Street, Burnley, by three passers-y on Tuesday
BLACKBURN Rovers lost vital ground in the battle for European places after Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa pulled off a smash and grab job at a shellshocked Ewood. This was meant to be Rovers' game in hand on their closest rivals but, instead of closing
A FAVOUR for a friend landed a 34-year-old Blackburn man with a three-year driving ban. Blackburn magistrates heard that Gurmeet Uppal gave the friend a lift to Accrington and narrowly failed a breathalyser on the way home. The friend had made a statement
A BREWERY has said it will not give in to yobs after a pub boss was attacked and hundreds of pounds of damage was caused at a pub. Landlord Alan Brownridge, 40, was struck with a chair and several windows were smashed by a group who police believed had
More than 50 youngsters from across Lancashire were given their first taster of inter area competition at Sport City, Manchester last Sunday. The under-11 boys and girls were representing two Lancashire teams (the oranges and the purples) in the Norwich
Jackie Shaw has won the first race of her career at the David Staff Memorial Race. The Darwen Dasher couldn't have chosen a better moment either as the race was organised by her own club. Jackie took 44 minutes and 58 seconds to run the 5.1 mile circuit
Pendle Forest Orienteers have announced the winners of the Autumn Series of events which were held over five successive Saturdays at Haslingden, Accrington, Colne, Trawden and Burnley. Sam Lyons from Blessed Trinity School was the winner of the Technical
OWEN Coyle has urged Burnley to maintain the high standards they set in his first win as Clarets boss at Watford. The former St Johnstone manager, who was unveiled as Steve Cotterill's successor last week, hailed a team effort after seeing his new side
The most successful female act of the century, Sugababes, will be the final act to perform at this season's series of Up Close gigs on Tuesday 11th December. We've teamed up with organisers Sony Ericsson Walkman Phones and 97.4 Rock FM to offer you
FORMER Blackburn Rovers star David Thompson has been forced to retire because of injury. The 30-year-old, who also played for Liverpool, has struggled with a knee injury for the last few seasons. He has now been advised to hang up his boots.
FORMER Burnley manager Steve Cotterill is favourite with bookmakers to be named Swindon Town boss. Paul Sturrock left the Robins this week to re-join Plymouth Argyle.
A SECOND half stalemate meant Burnley's Reserves had to settle for a point at Chester City last night. But new manager Owen Coyle was impressed with the attitude shown by both the senior and youth team players. And he re-iterated that it was all part
I ATTENDED Crosshill Special School, Blackburn, between 1993 and 1994 and am glad it has been saved from closure. In a recent article (LT November 22, I read about the school's excellent Ofsted report. That brought back memories and it was a delight
Many letters have been written by distressed grave owners after safety checks authorised by Blackburn with Darwen Council on grave headstones. Few words, if any, have been written by Councillor Alan Cottam who appears to be responsible for the checks
It beggars belief that Arif Waghat has been able to retain his seat on Blackburn with Darwen Council as a benefit cheat, and that's what he is! As to our council leader's argument that Coun Waghat made a mistake, would he be so charitable to a burglar
In their call for a new approach to festivals Canon Chivers and Anjum Anwar (LT, November 15) raise important issues. However, many people in the borough of Blackburn with Darwen are rightly questioning the nature of this decision. Is this really a
ACCRINGTON STANLEY skipper Peter Cavanagh is targeting a Boxing Day return after undergoing a hernia operation yesterday. The 26-year-old has been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks but went under the knife this week to coincide with Stanley's
FORMER Burnley boss Stan Ternent is to be named Derby's assistant manager today. The Lancashire Telegraph understands that he will be appointed Paul Jewell's number two at Pride Park. Ternent, who parted company with the Clarets in 2004, has been out
The 2008 fixtures for the Ribblesdale League have been released. APRIL 19 Barnoldswick v Blackburn Northern Baxenden v Earby Cherry Tree v Oswaldtwistle Gt Harwood v Edenfield Padiham v Clitheroe Ribblesdale W v Read Settle v Whalley APRIL
British Transport Police were called to Blackburn railway station after a man threatened to shoot staff. The man, thought to have been a vagrant, was drunk and abusive at 7.15am on Tuesday, police said. Despite his threat he did not have a weapon
DO I like my present job as Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary? Yes, I love it; and doing any of these jobs at the heart of government is a real privilege. Do I miss the Foreign Office? Yes, sometimes. I don't miss being knackered, as I was on occasions
This family photograph highlights another important doorstep delivery back in 1947. It shows George Butterworth, who worked for the long-gone Palatine Dairies in Blackburn with his Bedford van in Audley. The milk wagon bears a local number plate BSB
DID any older residents of Darwen think back to the opening of Green Street swimming baths when the first pictures of the town's planned, new £12million leisure centre were revealed last week? Sigrid Green, who is 87, certainly did and she recalled it
IN 1942, a little boy, whose home in Kent had been bombed by the Germans, was evacuated to Darwen. Here Bill Jordan recollects the days he spent in East Lancashire with his mum and sister, Rita, aged just five. "In April, 1941, the blast of a parachute
A MAN who was a passenger in a car that crashed into a tree was today in a stable condition in hospital. The car had been travelling along Johnson New Road, Hoddlesden, at 3.35am today when the driver lost control on a bend. The passenger suffered head
