A GANG of car thieves is using specialist lifting equipment and a transporter to steal vehicles left unattended at night. Twelve cars have been stolen from compounds in Darwen and Great Harwood in the past week, despite the crooks not having the keys
THREE people have been arrested after a man was left fighting for his life following an alleged assault. Paramedics and police were called to a property in Formby Close in Blackburn at 2.15pm today where the 51-year-old man was found unconscious and
ONE of the country's most wanted paedophiles has been arrested two months after police mistakenly released him. Joshua Karney, 30, of Barnoldswick, was arrested by police in Sussex this evening. Karney was jailed for 15 months in November 2002 after
A PAEDOPHILE who raped a young girl five times and carried out sex assaults on two other children has been jailed for 15 years. As Ian Greenall, 47, of Hillside, Burnley, was sent to prison, the judge told him he had made his main victim an emotional
A teenager was killed by an allergic reaction to toothpaste as she brushed her teeth before a night out, her family suspects. Allergy sufferer Francesca Sanna died at her family home in Oswaldtwistle after collapsing from an anaphylatic reaction in October
THE Brunshaw Action Group is inviting young people to audition for a new play called Nuts'. Young people aged 14-25 years can audition for the play at Brunshaw Youth Centre on Sunday January 27 at 3pm. The cast will get the chance to perform the piece
A MOTHER broke down in tears as she spoke of her relief at being able to bury her son six months ago after he died. A Muslim and traditional English funeral ceremony will be held for Nadeem Khan, who died in hospital hours after being taken into police
A TRADE exhibition will be showing off the best of the North West's food at Ewood Park. The Buy Local 2008 exhbi-ibition on January 29 will show off food ranging from locally-made black pudding to ewe's milk ice cream and locally-bottled mineral water
A man arrested because of his erratic behaviour was found to be carrying two screwdrivers in his pocket. Blackburn magistrates heard that Nick Worley told police he was carrying them for his own protection in case anybody "jumped" him. And the court
THE murder of family man Garry Newlove by a gang of youths in Warrington has reignited the debate about young people and alcohol. After three drunken teenagers were convicted of kicking the father-of-three to death outside his home, Mr Newlove's wife
A 19-year-old Blackburn man thought his luck had changed when he found five lottery scratch tickets in the street, a court was told. But Lee Wilcox was arrested by police investigating a post office burglary in which a quantity of scratch cards had been
MULTI World trials champion Dougie Lampkin has quit the Montesa factory team and teamed up with Beta as he goes in search of a record breaking eighth outdoor title. Lampkin, who rode for the importers, Sandifords of Burnley, has agreed terms to join
THE mum of the world's youngest-ever double lung transplant recipient has said people should not be forced to donate their organs after they die. Cystic fibrosis sufferer Mariam Imran, five, of Whalley Range, Blackburn, received new lungs in an eight-hour
A NEW lane will not be created at one of Rossendale's busiest junctions, a meeting has heard. Rossendale's Lancashire Local meeting was told a review of traffic flow at the Tup Bridge junction, Rawtenstall, by Lancashire County Council had found there
A THIEF who stole three bottles of wine at 6.30am put two down when he was confronted by security staff, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how "desperate" former drug addict Raja Khan took the other bottle outside the town's Asda and dropped
A WOMAN who tried to kill her baby was beaten by her partner following a row over the court case. In October Sharon Wiseman, of Waterfoot, was made subject to a three-year community order after admitting the crime. This week she was back in court, but
TEENAGERS in Lancashire are binge drinking and getting involved in violence after regularly consuming more than the safe weekly alcohol limit for adults. A study by North West Trading Standards has shown that 38% of 14 to 17-year-olds in Lancashire binge
A CHILDREN'S nursery has been targeted by arsonists for the third time in 11 months. Police have launched an investigation into the latest arson attack at Little People's Nursery, Piccadilly Road, Burnley. Officers are probing whether the blazes are
TWO residents must wait to hear the outcome of their High Court fight to prevent their homes making way for the Darwen Academy. Adrian Walker, of Redearth Street, and Thomas Brian, of Sunnybank Street, asked Mr Justice Wilkie to quash a compulsory purchase
A MAN who beat up his paralysed partner on two occasions has been branded 'despicable' by magistrates. Nigel Albert Schofield, 56, attacked terrified wheelchair-bound Karen Storey 12 days apart, leaving her to be found injured by carers and in tears.
A MOTORIST has today been jailed for three years after the driver he was racing died in a crash. Father-of-one Steven George, 32, of Hordley Street, Burnley, had admitted causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop and failing to report an
WHATEVER Nick Dougherty achieves on and off the golf course, it can be considered a real East Lancashire success story. The 25-year-old Shaw Hill professional today launches his 2008 season in the Abu Dhabi Championship, bid-ding for a flying start to
A COUNCILLOR targeted by a poisoning plot has spoken of his relief after a man was convicted of sending him caustic soda in a vodka bottle. Councillor John Wright also said that he would not allow Wayne Cook's actions to prevent him from doing his job
PENDLE Council is to stage its first business awards. The ceremony will have nine categories to highlight work done by all businesses, ranging from individuals, small and medium-sized organisations and large companies. All short-listed companies will
A YOUNG Accrington woman was attacked and had her handbag stolen as she walked home The incident happened at 9pm on Friday 11 January but police have only just released details. As the 19-year-old walked along Water Street, Accrington, she was approached
ACCRINGTON Stanley have agreed a £19,000 sponsorship deal with Hyndburn Council which will provide them with free training facilities. The club will receive the cash for two seasons on the provision that it uses it to pay the council for the use of training
A NEW £1.35million sports arena will help local children live longer by encouraging them to exercise, parents were told. Blackburn Rovers players Brad Friedel, Roque Santa Cruz, David Bentley and Ryan Nelsen joined manager Mark Hughes to mark the opening
HAPTON co-driver Daniel Barritt has signed up for this year's British Championship alongside Philip Morrow. The duo, along with Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh, will lead the Mitsubishi challenge in this year's competition. And he is confident they can put
A MAN has been found guilty of being involved in a plot to send poisoned vodka bottles through the post as part of a campaign for Scottish independence. Wayne Cook, 45, was today convicted after two-and-a-half hours of deliberations by a jury at Manchester
AMBITIOUS plans to transform Accrington, which detail the next 15 years of development for the town, have been revealed. Proposals include improving public spaces, shopping, business, transport routes, parking and other aspects of the central area.
A PENSIONER died from complications following surgery for a fall which occured a year before, an inquest heard. Retired seamstress Joan Porter, 73, of Mellor Close, Burnley, slipped and fell while out walking her dog in May 2006, Burnley Coroner's Court
VANDALS ripped out 30 car aerials in two streets, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. The aerials were snapped off in what police suspect was a 'drink-fuelled rampage', which happened two nights running. Vehicles were targeted in Byron Road
THIEVES rammed a police car as they fled from the scene of an attempted burglary. Police had disturbed the offenders as they attempted to break into a garage on Brunswick Street, Darwen, at 10.50pm on Friday. The offenders made off without any property
Manager Steve Wilkes has left Padiham after three and a half years to take charge of North West Counties Division One side, Runcorn Linnets. The ex-Darwen boss, who has pushed Padiham to the brink of promotion, said: "I'm sad to leave. "It's a good
OFSTED inspectors who visited a Bacup school said behaviour was consistently high. The inspectors who visited St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School were impressed with pupils' personal development and well-being, including spiritual, moral, social
The "Sleep Safely Campaign" project is the first pilot scheme to ever be trailed here in Burnley. We are hoping after completing this pilot scheme on Dall/Glebe St initially, we as Dall Street Resident's Association would like if at all possible, to
HOSPITAL staff could face disciplinary action if they post concerns on a website set up to see how staff feel about a controversial shake-up. The ruling Liberal Democrats in Burnley and Pendle launched www.its-our-nhs.org.uk amid serious concerns about
A BLACKBURN man convicted of witness intimidation has been jailed for four months after a judge said the operation of justice had to be protected. Mohammed Bux threatened a teenager who was a witness in the case when he was accused of selling alcohol
WE'VE had an appeal for help from Ian Giles, who is seeking information about St Mary Magda-lene Boys' Club, Burnley, in the 1930s. He is particu-larly interested in any old photo-graphs of the building or street that it was located. One of the reasons
WE are turning the clock back 40 years this week, to tell the story of two schools which became sub branches of their local banks. It helped the pupils of Foulridge C of E primary and Rawtenstall's Cloughfold county primary schools put their maths lessons
THE arrival of 1967 saw the end of the old-style Territorial Army in Burnley. And old soldiers who had left the TA barracks in 1940 for such places as Tobruk, Narvik, El Agheila and Thessalonika gathered at a farewell party. Although it was a quarter
An Arsenal fan who tried to get into Turf Moor drunk was spared a football banning order at Burnley magistrates. Engineer David George Jordan, 44, was a season ticket holder and normally took his children to matches, the bench was told. Sue Campbell
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a man was robbed of his mobile phone in Blackburn. The 29-year-old man was walking up Audley Range, towards North Road, Blackburn, when he was approached by two men, who pushed him into an alley and stole his
A DRINK driver who crashed his car in Hapton after a night on the town owned up to police, but then abused officers on the way to the station. Apprentice joiner Adam Thomas Veitch, 20, told the police if he got banned it would not stop him driving, as
A WOMAN who got behind the wheel while banned and over the limit has been warned by Burnley magistrates she could go to jail. The court was told how machine operator Patricia Cameron, 44, was disqualified until she took an extended retest. She had taken
DRINKS with nautical links are on offer at the fourth Pendle Beer Festival. Real ale including Adnams' Broadside, Titanic Iceberg and Milestone Black Pearl are just a few on offer for the All At Sea theme, which coincides with Colne Heritage Centre's
Once again Carole and Alan Hindle are of to Gambia, this time they would like to take football boots with them. They would be very grateful for any donations of old pairs of boots, if you have any, please contact me at simon.ocarroll@btinternet.com
A BURGLAR who broke into a Clitheroe house ended up dialing 999 when he cut his wrist trying to get out of the property. Preston Crown Court heard that Stuart Taylor, described as a gifted musician, spent four weeks in hospital after paramedics found
A BURNLEY football club blimp cut free by vandals in December will not be replaced, according to the club. The club said no sightings had been received of the 20-foot airship-style balloon, which was cut free 90 minutes before its maiden outing at a
TOURIST attractions and businesses fear that a road closure will have a severe effect on their livelihoods. Customers and visitors to restaurants, shops and attractions in the Chipping area will have to make a 20-minute detour to get to their destinations
A SECTION of the A679 Burnley Road, Hapton, is to have a temporary prohibition order to traffic from 9am to 5pm on Friday January 29 or until completion of repairs to this road. The work will take place on an 866m stretch leading up to the A56 junction
POLICE in Ribble Valley are appealing for help to trace the owner of a stone trough. The trough was recovered in the early hours of January 5, and measures 3ft by 2ft. Police believe it has been used recently in a garden. If your trough has gone
Being in opposition in politics is frustrating, as I discovered during my first 18 years as Blackburn MP. It's about what you say, and little else. Being in power and taking decisions from a range of often unpalatable choices is harder, as I think the
IN 1966 East Lancashire ballet dancers were on their toes to win trophies at Blackburn Ballet Festival. Care and attention to detail won Judith High, of Great Harwood, the main Blackburn ballet trophy, according to adjudicator Doreen Bird. A capacity
ACCRINGTON Library is 100 years old tomorrow. The Carnegie public library, in St James' Street, was officially opened by the mayor, Ald T E Higham, on January 18, 1908. It cost £10,000 to build, including the teak floors and polished oak furniture,
BURNLEY are bracing themselves for a second bid from Charlton Athletic as the Addicks step up their quest to sign Andy Gray. The Clarets have turned down what they described as a "substantial seven figure bid" for their leading goalscorer, after Lancashire
A MAN found dead at a house in Padiham has been named. Terence Hosker, 26, of Warwick Drive, was discovered by a friend who called paramedics at around 5.30pm on Monday afternoon. Police are not treating the death as suspicious. An inquest will be opened
A MAN who believed he had been cut up' by a plumber's van took his mobile number off the side of the vehicle and then used it to make offensive phone calls. Blackburn magistrates heard that Ishtaiaq Akbar made racist remarks, obscene threats about what
Three men have appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with burglary after attempting to steal from a cash machine outside the McDonalds fast food outlet at Ewood. The court heard that a "serious" attempt had been made to break into the ATM using
A FATHER of one who attacked his estranged wife broke her tooth after he was said to have hit her and thrown her on the floor twice. Burnley Magistrates heard how Syed Tahir Shabbir, 31, was said to have been "bothering" the victim because he was anxious
A MAN has been arrested in connection with a sex attack where the victim was locked in her own shed after being burgled. The 51-year-old woman was said to have been attacked in her Clayton-le-Moors home in the early hours of Wednesday after an intruder
TRADERS have complained that council improvement works have brought traffic misery to their area. The £1million Whalley Range improvement works in Blackburn were aimed at boosting trade - but business owners have said customers are staying away because
HEART Research UK would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in our national Sing for your Heart week last December. We reached all corners of the country and it's thanks to support by local people all over the country that we had our
I WOULD like to thank the paramedics who took me to the Royal Blackburn Hospital. Doctors, nursing staff and especially Dr Ahmed in the emergency ward who couldn't do enough for me and later the staff in the assessment ward. And after leaving the
IN September last year a new community beat manager came into the Griffin, Galligreaves and Witton area of Blackburn. PC Chris Hammill is an inspiration and a credit to our community. He is so dedicated to improving life for everybody he even comes to
I SYMPATHISE completely with Graham Brunton, the Blackburn with Darwen Council mayor's officer who has been told his salary will be cut (LT, January 8). I am sure he does a wonderful job, but so do many others. I sympathise even more with my own daughter
A Polish man was snatched from his Blackburn home, bundled into the boot of a car and taken to Cheshire by a gang of kidnappers, a court has heard. Lukasz Radzikowski was later seen by motorists making a bid for freedom in his underwear after the vehicle
Dall St. Resident's Assoc, has been advised they have now secured the funding for the "Sleep Safely Campaign", which would supply each household on Dall Street & Glebe St a FREE Carbon Monoxide Detector, to help the resident's feel secure, knowing that
BLACKBURN Rovers are likely to keep hold of striker Jason Roberts until at least the end of the season, despite the striker being added to more Premier League wanted lists after his superb solo winner against Bolton Wanderers. The Trotters themselves
POLICE have revealed that a 15-year-old stab victim was not attacked by a third party. Earlier today officers said they had launched a major hunt after the girl told them she had been stabbed in the stomach. The girl told officers a man wearing a scarf
THE Wine Circle are offering another full programme of exciting and tempting events to tickle your taste buds during 2008. The Annual General Meeting saw the appointment of the following officers: Chairman - Arthur Cassidy; Vice Chairman - Harry Halstead
FOHS received lots of entries for our FREE card decorating competition at Christmas. The children (and helpers) did themselves proud and judging, as usual, was extremely difficult for Councillor Paul Gott. Winners for 2007 were: Kiara Mulholland
BURNLEY Reserves game at Tranmere Rovers, which was scheduled to be played last night, was postponed. A new date has yet to be arranged.
THE first week of the Sharon Murray Grand Prix darts competition has been completed. John Phillips beat Keith Rambo' Lynch 5-0 - averaging 79.58 on his way to the final. The standard of darts at the Cabin End pub was very high with 65 tons, 21 140s
THERE is close on £400 at stake on Tuesday, January 22, when the Borough Pairs snooker tournament reaches its climax at the Darwen pub. The first of the two semi-finals will get under way at 7.45 and all three matches will follow the usual rules; aggregate
DEAF people will be able to report an emergency by text message, thanks to a new scheme. Lancashire police and the fire service have teamed up to allow people to report serious incidents without needing help from anybody else. Users can send a short
CHAIRMAN John Williams hopes Mark Hughes can be left to get on with the task of pushing Blackburn Rovers up the Premier League table after speculation about his immediate future ended with Kevin Keegan's re-appointment as Newcastle manager. The Rovers
ACCRINGTON Stanley assistant manager Jimmy Bell insists he and boss John Coleman are the men to take the Reds forward. The duo's future has been called into question after their 8-2 embarrassment at Peter-borough United on Tuesday night. The London
