A TEAM of government appointed inspectors has given a Darwen school full marks in an official report. Sudell County Primary received glowing praise in an OFSTED report and was described as a well-managed, successful school. According to the findings,
POPULAR East Lancashire priest Father Leo Heakin is leaving his parish for pastures new. But although soccer fan Fr Heakin is leaving Burnley's St John the Baptist RC Church, where he has served for eight years, he doesn't yet know where his next "fixture
BURNLEY MP Peter Pike is battling to prevent paper and other sludge being spread on moorland. He was alerted about the problem in the early 1970s when paper sludge was legally spread on Heald Moor above the town. But the way it was done did not meet with
DAMIAN MATTHEW has his eyes on the perfect end of season double of staying up and winning a new contract at Turf Moor, writes PETE OLIVER. And with the midfield man set to return at Grimsby on Tuesday to help Burnley's push for Wembley in the Auto Windscreens
ROY Hodgson believes a mad March fixture list could yet give a helping hand to Blackburn Rovers' hopes of a top-two Premiership place, writes PETER WHITE. And that would be a magnificent achievement after last season's desperate struggle and the previous
PENDLE'S roads and back streets are getting cleaner and street sweepers are becoming more effective in their battle against litter, according to a survey. The council's annual litter survey showed the authority is cleaning up its act when it comes to
A TEENAGER found dead at his friend's house was "a loveable rogue with a heart of gold," a family friend said. The mother of John David Alston, who was 16 on Christmas Eve, was too upset to talk about her son's death. But family friend, Sheila Meakin
THE government today poured scorn on former Labour Cabinet minister and Blackburn MPs Barbara Castle's latest bitter attack on its pensions policy. Yesterday she claimed it was bent on scrapping the state pension, breaking its election promise. But a
A MURDER inquiry was launched today after a 24-year-old man was gunned down on the back doorstep of his home. The victim, Paul Frank Rothwell, is believed to have been blasted in the head after answering a knock at the back door in the early hours of
RESIDENTS fighting a plan for a steel plant will tomorrow take to the skies to show how much countryside would be 'ruined' by the development. Aerial photographs will be taken of the site which Bolton-based company William Hare is hoping to develop as
HOME Secretary Jack Straw has pledged a "zero tolerance" policy on people who batter their partners as domestic violence in East Lancashire soared in the last year. The Blackburn MP heard the full extent of the horrors surrounding domestic violence in
IT'S HOME sweet home for Lancashire Lynx this season - much to the relief of coach Kevin Tamati. Lynx faced a likely return to Chorley when Preston North End planned to replace the pitch at Deepdale this summer. But the football club has opted for less
THE Forest of Rossendale which once filled the Valley with oak trees could be restored as part of the Millennium celebrations. Planting 2,000 new trees is one of a range of ideas being considered by councillors as part of the Valley's contribution to
ISMO Rokala has given Lancashire Hawks a scare ahead of tomorrow night's ice hockey play-off home date with Peterborough Pirates. And Hawks can count without the services of netminder Colin Downie for the rest of the season. Finnish ace Rokala is struggling
BOSSES at Lancashire's largest "home-grown" building society have repeated their pledge to stay "members-only" to offer a better deal on loans and savings. Nelson-based Marsden Building Society reported massive jumps in profits and mortgage business last
ALAN Shearer swears by chicken and beans to fuel his hunger for goals. England cricketer Phil Tufnell argues the merits of a four-pack and a packet of 20 Bensons to satisfy his appetite, writes ANDY NEILD. Then there's Chelsea's Gianluca Vialli. In his
POOH KITTEN is appealing for your help this week. This kitten was not named after the famous Bear rather her condition when she was rescued by Blackburn Cat Rescue! Part of an RSPCA cruelty case in the Colne area, Pooh Kitten was in a sorry state when
A TELEVISION actress from East Lancashire has defended her role in Britain's top soap opera amid a storm of protest over her controversial character. Coronation Street bosses have been blasted for the show's storyline about a transsexual played by Julie
THE funeral of a former borough engineer and leading member of several Pendle organisations will be held next week. Eric Whittaker, 76, died in Burnley General Hospital on Wednesdayafter a short illness. Mr Whittaker, of Colne, been asked for address
A CELEBRITY chef from Rossendale has sold his country house hotel to a former newspaper editor from Blackburn. John Tovey has run the prestigious Miller Howe Restaurant and Hotel on the shore of Windermere for 27 years. He has accepted a six figure sum
WREXHAM'S win at Burnley helped manager Brian Flynn land the Second Division's manager of the month award. The Robins' 2-1 success at Turf Moor 11 days ago was one of four wins from five games during February as Wrexham put themselves in contention for
