WITH all the hullabaloo focusing on the election of the Mayor of London, let us consider the good old American way of doing things. First, they elect the Mayor; then, he picks his council, police chief, leading fire officer and other posts -- even the
I THANK Mrs B Anthony (Letters, April 12) for putting me on the right track regarding the Grane Road. It would certainly be a major engineering operation to straighten the road, involving not only, as Mrs Anthony points out, extensive tunnelling, but
SO Blackburn is to have its own secret service right in the middle of town hall -- made up of a gang of 'super councillors' -- a small elite band brought together to do the work that 60 councillors are unable to do, or can't be trusted to do. They will
TWO men who had been best friends since childhood died when their car spun off the road and hit a tree near Barnoldswick. Driver Jason Wilkinson, 24, of Fern Street, Colne and front seat passenger Jonathan Alexander, 25, of Keighley Road, Colne, died
CROWDS of people flocked to Towneley Park yesterday to join in the St George's Day celebrations and to take advantage of the sunny weather. Organisers of the event estimated they had 10, 000 visitors throughout the day and are hoping to make it a two-day
ELEVEN people were arrested when violence broke out before, during and after Burnley's big game against promotion rivals Millwall on Saturday. Five Burnley fans and six Millwall fans were arrested for public order offences when police were attacked and
Angela turns up the heat and gets 'em cookin' CHICAGO blues diva Angela Brown made a triumphant return to Burnley Mechanics. After an absence of three years, backed by the excellent Mighty 45s, she moved the 12th Burnley National Blues Festival into overdrive
TWO men who had been best friends since childhood died when their car spun off the road and hit a tree near Barnoldswick. Driver Jason Wilkinson, 24, of Fern Street, Colne and front seat passenger Jonathan Alexander, 25, of Keighley Road, Colne, died
CHERRY Tree were the only side to profit from a rain-affected opening programme of the Jennings Ribblesdale League. Having restricted Settle to 56-8, it took the home side just five overs to reach their target, for the loss of three wickets. That was
PRO-LIFE campaigner Ken Hargreaves vowed to "fight on" to try to reverse the Commons decision to allow experiments of human embryos. The Hyndburn MP said he was "disappointed" at the overwhelming vote to allow experiments on embryos up to 14 days old.
PUBS in Clitheroe were forced to shut their doors early as a gang of lager louts rampaged through the town centre. Five people were arrested for various public order offences as the group of about 30 young men wrecked the games room of one pub, smashed
MORE than 50 members of Hyndburn churches took part in the annual "Station of the Cross" service. Pupils from St Christopher's CE High School, Accrington, also took part in the procession from Avenue Parade to the top of Accrington Coppice, where the
CHILDREN had fun looking for Easter eggs at Oswaldtwistle Mills. The youngsters had to find 12 pictures with the help of a map during the Easter egg hunt, which led them to various places around the grounds, including the fishing lodge and gnome corner
ROYAL Marines new recruit Chris Heys is set to relive the trials and tribulations of making it to the passing out parade -- on television. Chris, 22, from Accrington, is one of some 22 new recruits who had the cameras tracking them throughout his training
THE Northwest Development Agency is calling for the restoration of East Lancashire's Assisted Area status to help support its manufacturing base. The European Commission has turned down recent regional aid recommendations for parts of Burnley, Hyndburn
ANDY COOKE again proved himself the man for the big occasion to help Burnley pull off a dramatic 4-3 win with his first goal in three months, writes Pete Oliver. And the back-to-form striker made Millwall pay yet again with his fifth goal against the
HCRICHTON: Inspired performance by the keeper, who made a string of fine saves at crucial times to keep the Clarets' noses in front...9 THOMAS: Looked comfortable at right-back where his physical presence helped check Paul Moody and keep Millwall at bay
Burnley 4, Millwall 3 PLEASE, Burnley, go straight up. Three more matches I can manage, another five or six -- no chance. What should have been a comfortable cruise into this afternoon's game at Brentford after an hour of marvellous football suddenly
HUDDERSFIELD Town left back Jamie Vincent could be a surprise summer transfer target for Blackburn Rovers boss Graeme Souness, who also took the opportunity to spy on Bolton striker Eidur Gudjohnsen and several other players on Saturday, writes Peter
LEE Collins has been appointed group managing director for Prestons BMW and Hillendale Land Rover in Colne. Lee, 32, was formerly the group's operations director and has worked in the trade for the past 12 years.
AN association which represents car repairers has won an award off its landlord. The Motor Vehicle Repair Association has been awarded the Business of the Month accolade by IMEX which runs the Glenfield Park estate in Blackburn where it is based MVRA
MEMBERS of more than 20 women's organisation from Blackburn and Darwen heard about changes in the way health provision is organised. Councillor Maureen Bateson, chairman of the Women's Forum, opened the get-together at the Women's Resource Centre in Blackburn
LANCASHIRE Police authority is set to publish its annual report. The report compliments the force's annual policing plan and sets out aims and policies for the coming 12 months. The law means the police authority has to publish the report and the document
HOLIDAYMAKERS are getting even more for their money this summer -- and hospice fund-raisers are asking them to give a little extra too. The strong pound and weak Euro means travellers will get extra foreign cash with favourable exchange rates from almost
PUPILS are well and truly on the ball thanks to an after-school study centre at Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park ground which has proved to be a big hit. The initiative, aimed at providing 10 to 14-year-olds with a stimulating environment to raise attainment
READERS of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph have been praised for their 'wonderful achievement' in raising more than £27,000 for children affected by floods in Mozambique. About 950,000 people were left in need of humanitarian assistance, with 190,000
THE East Lancashire couple accused of killing their three-year-old daughter have both protested their innocence. After they were remanded in custody by Blackburn magistrates, Asad Mujahid and his wife Taj Begum Ali issued statements through their solicitors
(abandoned after 15 mins, pitch waterlogged) CLITHEROE's end of season has been delayed due to a freak downpour which put paid to Saturday's home clash with Newcastle Town. Torrential rain just prior to kick off left the pitch unplayable and the match
VAUXHALL clinched a league and cup double after sinking United for the second time in three days -- but Dale boss Micky Graham can again be proud of his side's efforts. After the heartache of losing 3-1 following extra time in the Floodlit Trophy final
A THOROUGHLY punchless performance from Chorley made it all too easy for title-chasing Witton to pick up the three points which put them level with Burscough and Radcliffe at the top of the UniBond First Division. Home keeper Ronnie Sinclair could not
LANCASHIRE made their Easter cricketing debut today in need of some kind of miracle to reach the Benson and Hedges Cup quarter-finals. Last week's defeat by Derbyshire has left them third in the Northern Division and level on points with no fewer than
FOR several horrible, agonising minutes, the world of motorbikes feared the worst, writes Neil Bramwell. Hardcore British fans stared at the live television pictures early on Sunday morning in stunned disbelief. Fogarty was carrying an on-board camera
'Bananas in Pyjamas' King George's Hall, Blackburn, 2.30pm. Holiday Activity Week at Helmshore Textile Museums. Blackburn Local History Society meet Feilden Room, Central Library, Blackburn 7.15pm. 'Lancashire: a timber framed county,' by Nigel Morgan
THOUGH the effort will be far from valueless, it is hard to comprehend the necessity for the massive consultation exercise being launched tomorrow by the Prime Minister to find ways of improving the NHS. After all, the brief summarising people's expectations
A BENEFIT concert raised more than £700 for two women who were injured in a horrific dog attack. Lois Jackson, 69, had her foot and part of her lower leg amputated after a Staffordshire-cross terrier turned on her and its owner Bernadette Thompson. Mrs
LAST year, I appealed to readers to take any foreign coins into a branch of Boots the Chemists or their local Cancer Research Campaign shop and the response has been phenomenal. So far, a staggering £100,000-worth of unwanted foreign coins have been donated
REGARDING the remarks of Sheila Williams (Letters, April 13) whose 'facts' on asylum seekers show that 54 per cent are not bogus, here are two other facts for consideration. Jack Straw, speaking on immigration on April 15, said it was "a very, very serious
I FELT I should write in my position as Executive Director of the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF, to congratulate your newspaper and its readers for your wonderful achievement in raising more than £27,684 for children affected by the recent floods
For a moment Carl Fogarty's fans throughout the world feared the World Superbike Champion was dead yesterday. Millions of TV viewers saw Fogarty hurled into the gravel after running into Austrian rider Robert Ulm at Phillip Island, Australia. The Blackburn
GRIMSBY boss Alan Buckley believes his side are now safe from relegation but admitted they had been forced to pull out all the stops just to compete on the same level as Rovers, writes Peter White. But Tony Parkes, in charge during Graeme Souness's absence
KELLY: So little to do but made a superb save from Livingstone and a vital interception near the end...7 McATEER: 'Mugged' by late tackles a couple of times but made a good contribution...7 HDAILLY: Looked in control of virtually everything at the back
HUDDERSFIELD Town left back Jamie Vincent could be a surprise summer transfer target for Blackburn Rovers boss Graeme Souness, who also took the opportunity to spy on Bolton striker Eidur Gudjohnsen and several other players on Saturday. Souness missed
Grimsby 0 Rovers 0 THE entire story of Blackburn Rovers' season was encapsulated inside just 90 minutes at Blundell Park on Saturday -- and not for the first time. Graeme Souness had more pressing business to attend to elsewhere but the video will be
BY a tradition that goes back to at least 1750, Easter Week in Blackburn has always been coupled with all the fun of the fair. But though it has not been held there since 1964, for many people the fair is still associated Blackburn's old market square
VISITING twin-town Blackburn in 1951 as it celebrated the centenary of its charter of incorporation, the Mayor of Peronne in France, M. Daniel Boinet, his wife and 13-year-old daughter and Micheline toured giant Waterfall Mill which had one of the largest
CHAMPIONS Darwen began the defence of their title with a draw at the home of 1998 Champions Netherfield. Although showing five changes from last year's side, Darwen were on top reducing Netherfield to 128-8 with home professional Vaughan hitting 46 and
THE Big Breakfast was broadcasting live from Clitheroe Auction Mart today. Roving reporter Richard Bacon set up a stall at the auction mart's annual Easter Monday car boot sale. He was selling props from the wacky Channel 4 show as well as trying to buy
RELIEVED Burnley boss Stan Ternent hailed his players as they went into battle at Brentford today with their promotion hopes still alive and kicking, writes Pete Oliver. And Ternent is also being linked with another move into the transfer market -- a
RELIEVED Burnley boss Stan Ternent hailed his players as they went into battle at Brentford today with their promotion hopes still alive and kicking, writes Pete Oliver. And Ternent is also being linked with another move into the transfer market -- a
A COUNCIL officer has been given a special presentation to mark his contribution to the aerospace industry. Colin Wilkinson, who recently retired as Pendle's economic development manager, was presented with a miniature jet engine fan blade by the North
FRENCH engineering giant Alstom has bought Norweb's industrial electricity contracting business for an undisclosed sum. Norweb Contracting's 300 staff, based in Manchester, will transfer to Alstom under the deal. The move comes as part of Norweb-owner
PROFITS at local firms are being hit as the continuing strength of the pound takes its toll. According to the latest corporate health check by information group Experian, profits fell sharply in the second half of the year among North West businesses.
A DISABLED woman claims she is "fighting a losing battle" with the council to get the path to her home repaired. Juliet Bravo, 37, moved into her house at Ivinson Road, Darwen, in December, and since then has struggled to get in and out of her home because
IF you believe your dog can eat chocolate drops quicker than any other he or she could become a champion at this year's May Dog Show at Haslingden Sports Centre on Sunday, May 7. In celebration of National Pet Week there will be a dog obedience competition
A PROBATION officer has vowed that he will not be hanging up his walking boots for good, after taking on his last sponsored challenge. Graham Fletcher, 63, of Compston Avenue, Rossendale, is gearing up to brave the 14 Welsh mountain peaks in Snowdonia
EASTER egg-citement filled Blackburn town centre as egg-straordinary entertainers got shoppers in the holiday mood. The six-foot Easter bunny was the biggest hit for children. Dressed in a floral pinny, the cuddly creature handed out mini chocolate eggs
A TEENAGER'S ear was almost severed when he was attacked with a broken bottle at a Blackburn nightclub. Soldier Mark Greenwood, 18, was home on leave when he was attacked at Never Never Land, Blackburn, according to police. PC Stuart Roberts said doormen
For a moment Carl Fogarty's fans throughout the world feared the World Superbike Champion was dead yesterday. Millions of TV viewers saw Fogarty hurled into the gravel after running into Austrian rider Robert Ulm at Phillip Island, Australia. The Blackburn
EAST Lancastrians are much more likely to fall victim to two of Britain's most prolific killers -- heart disease and cancer. Deaths due to heart disease are almost 30 per cent higher in East Lancashire than the average for the rest of Britain. Although
FORMER Accrington Stanley strike duo Billy O'Callaghan and Paul Heavey helped shoot down Harwood as Denis Underwood's struggling Reds completed their league programme on a desperate note. O'Callaghan scored twice and Heavey netted once as a rampant Cables
WITH the pitch a quagmire before a ball had been kicked and Ramsbottom without four first team regulars, they faced a gruelling 90 minutes at lowly Glossop. The Rams almost grabbed the lead in the opening minute when David Yorke-Robinson was just wide
ACCRINGT0N STANLEY 2 ASHTON UNITED 1 RECORD signing Liam Watson went from villain to hero in the space of 10 first half minutes as the Reds made it 16 league games without defeat. The £10,000 striker missed a first half penalty but then hit back to score
DUNCAN Spencer knows a good spinner when he sees one after watching the imperious Roger Harper at close quarters over the past two seasons. And though Spencer and his Nelson team-mates only got a fleeting glimpse of Mike Watkinson yesterday, he saw enough
GEOFF Ellis destroyed Accrington with a seven-wicket show to inspire Colne to an opening day win in the Transco Lancashire League. Sent in, Accrington made a steady start with an opening partnership of 40, but then Ellis was introduced and soon put the
