COLOSSAL Bob Wright wants to lose his Weight Watcher leader - literally! Bob has been told to shed eight stones of flab - the equivalent weight of his leader Gill Armer, who runs Blackburn town centre slimming meetings. Determined Bob, 46, a former manager
MARTIN Dahlin has completed his £2 million move from AS Roma to Blackburn Rovers. The deal - Roy Hodgson's fifth as new Ewood boss - was completed yesterday but is unlikely to receive international clearance in time for the Swedish striker to play against
WE were informed last year, through your newspaper, that the problem of the ducks around Pleckgate, Blackburn, would be solved "to everyone's satisfaction, including the ducks'." I have to tell you the only 'satisfied customers' are the ducks and the
THE GOVERNMENT has dropped plans to ban or increase the tax on alcopops in favour of tough new controls on their sale, marketing, and advertising. Final details of a deal between ministers and the drinks industry will be hammered out in the next two weeks
HOLIDAYMAKERS jetting out to sun spots around the world were issued with a stern AIDS warning. "Cut out casual sex or use a condom," was the message from health chiefs as East Lancashire got in gear for its annual holiday fortnight. In high risk areas
Ribblesdale League RIBBLESDALE Wanderers captain Terry Braithwaite is not viewing tomorrow's trip to table-topping Cherry Tree as a cup final dress rehearsal. The two sides clash in the Ramsbottom Cup climax at Baxenden at the end of the month. But with
CARL Fogarty is ready to turn the clock back in order to go even faster in his bid for a third World Superbikes Championship. The Blackburn speedster is riding high at the top of the championship going into today's qualifying practice at Laguna Seca in
UNION leaders have slammed moves to introduce strict safety regulations on taxi and private hire cars in Blackburn and Darwen. The Transport and General Workers Union have labelled plans to bring in weekly tests as unreasonable. Blackburn with Darwen
A TODDLER who was viciously attacked by a dog was today recovering from emergency plastic surgery. Two-year-old Kirsty Wright, of Romney Walk, Blackburn, had more than 20 stitches in horrific facial wounds after she was set upon by the bull mastiff-pitbull
Friday Folk A BOOK detailing the history of an East Lancashire man who became famous overseas has gone on sale following 20 years of research by the author. Alan Hitch, of Rawtenstall, carried out a comprehensive study of the life and times of William
THE parents of Paul Wells, his girlfriend and family must be going through agony, not knowing what happened to him and the other hostages in Kashmir. What can their captors solve by keeping them, when they haven't done anything wrong? I think the Government
THE government was today backing away from forcing a ban on hunting through Parliament as Cabinet critics including Home Secretary Jack Straw warned privately of the damage such a move could do. In the wake of a massive demonstration by more than 100,000
Political Focus, with Bill Jacobs TONY Blair's new Labour Government has run up against its first real crisis - inevitably Northern Ireland. The Marching Season once again seemed set to confound all the good intentions of British Ministers. The Protestant
I FELT saddened by the comments in 'Relatives must share blame for tragic tots' (Letters, July 2) and 'Where would your love be?' (Letters, July 7). Blaming other family members for the death of baby Tara, I think, is ridiculous. There are family members
NEW boss Chris Waddle has given the green light to Burnley's pre-season tour of Northern Ireland. Clarets officials have consulted other clubs due to travel to Ireland for their warm-up games. And with the political problems apparaently easing, clubs
REGARDING the vandalism at the Darwen flower bed memorial to the children (with their teacher) of Dunblane (LET, July 4), words can not describe this cowardly act. I hope the culprits realise that the only way they are going to be remembered is from the
FAKE designer jeans with a street value estimated at £60,000 have been seized by trading standards officers. Officers from Burnley swooped on a business unit in Victoria Street, Accrington, and found 2,000 pairs of counterfeit Calvin Klein, Levi, Armani
Drive & Stroll, with Ron Freethy: Kildwick WHENEVER I think of Kildwick the name conjures up images of a Viking battle, with slaughter very much in the air. The truth is, however, that this is an idyllic spot sandwiched between the Leeds to Liverpool
FOOD hygiene experts launched a major crackdown on the owners of filthy shops in East Lancashire. More than 260 "high risk" restaurants, takeaways and shops were to be inspected every six months. Blackburn Council's get-tough policy followed a number
GLEN CHAPPLE is facing another frustrating injury absence from the Lancashire team. The England A paceman was forced out of the NatWest defeat by Sussex at Hove on Wednesday by a nasty-looking side injury. It is actually a problem with his inter-costal
WHATEVER backlash there is towards British troops in Bosnia after SAS men shot dead a Bosnian Serb police chief wanted for alleged ethnic cleansing and arrested his underling, they must not be deterred from the quest of bringing to book others wanted
THE RULING by the Lord Chief Justice that police in North Wales had been justified in telling a caravan site owner that two "extremely dangerous" convicted child sex offenders had moved in is the right one - as is the restraint with which it is tempered
THE BACKLASH of nationalist anger and violence in Ulster, which erupted after last weekend's Orange parade at Drumcree, has led not to a loyalist climbdown, in our view, but refreshing common sense and courage. For though the dramatic decision by the
Lancashire League A WORD of warning for Lancashire League batsmen should Corrie Jordaan return next season - the South African spin king is taking a Shane Warne masterclass. The Lowerhouse professional is streets ahead of the pack at the top of the bowling
THOUSANDS of aerospace workers were celebrating today after news leaked that Germany has finally decided to press ahead with the Eurofighter. The biggest cheers went up at British Aerospace's factories at Samlesbury and Warton, where much of the UK's
POLICE are praising gun owners after 441 firearms were handed over as part of a weapons surrender. Lancashire police say they have been delighted with the reaction of owners after a collection point was set up at the force headquarters for large calibre
