INTO an already-tumultuous teaching unions' conference season Education Secretary David Blunkett today tosses the announcement that hundreds of new in-school 'sin bins' are to be set up to deal with violent and disruptive pupils -- but not to the rapture
Food News, with Amanda Killelea HONEY BARBECUE BANANAS 4 bananas 4-g tbsps honey with lemon juice 50g desiccated coconut LEAVE the bananas unpeeled and wrap individually in foil. Place around the edge of the hot barbecue for about 15 minutes. Put the
Food News, with Amanda Killelea THE clocks have gone forward and the lighter nights mean more and more people are spending time outside. It may still be a little chilly outdoors but summer will soon be here and families everywhere will be dusting down
NEW Labour seems to be destroying everything that was sacred to us older people. It should dump the Red Flag as their battlecry and adopt Chubby Checker's song 'Let's Twist Again.' F WOLSTENHOLME, St Marks Road, Blackburn.
MICHAEL Hindley knows what he is on about when he slates our MEPs (LET, April 15). What an expensive illusion to democracy they are and certainly no good to their constituents. When he was an MEP, Mr Hindley was always available either directly or through
THE spring sunshine is bringing out the hedgehogs as well as the flowers. After their long hibernation, they need to replace fat lost over winter. You can help by leaving out a dish of tinned, meat-based pet food and a bowl of fresh water. Attracting
THE concerns I expressed in your 'Soapbox' feature (LET, April 8), on the gross unfairness and insecurity of Jack Straw's experimental Saturday voting, in town centres only, brought a rash of undemocratic mutterings from the Labour Party in Blackburn
CHRISTIAN Dailly played for Scotland in their 0-0 draw with Holland last night. Keith Gillespie also started Northern Ireland's game with Hungary and Damien Johnson came on as a second half sub. Manager Graeme Souness will wait to hear if his international
CRIMESTOPPERS may pay a reward for information on thieves who stole a purse containing £46 from the home of an 87-year-old woman. A youth knocked at her Barry Street, Burnley, door at 4.10pm on Friday, April 14, and persuaded her to allow him to collect
HOSPITAL wards earmarked for weekend closure are to remain open after a cash boost and long waiting lists prompted a U-turn by health bosses. Burnley Health Trust directors yesterday scrapped the money-saving scheme to cut the dermatology and urology
CANCER services being developed at the Royal Preston Hospital and now on offer to people in East Lancashire, were highlighted to Burnley area health watchdogs. Dr Graham Read, clinical director for oncology services at the hospital delivered the keynote
A CABBIE offered a frightened schoolgirl cash to try and bribe her to stop her picking out his cousin in an identity parade, a jury was told. Burnley Crown Court heard how Mohammed Khaliq, 23, who worked for Crown and Greenline Taxis, Colne, walked uninvited
A CANNABIS growing builder who set up a "sophisticated" cultivating system using stolen electricity, has started a three month jail term. Peter Gouch, 38, had originally been given community service after police found drugs, including the class A controlled
A NEWLY-formed savings and loans group aims to set up a collection point in Earby, to help fill the void left by the closure of Barclays Bank. But Colne and District Credit Union (CDCU) ruled out taking over the branch office. David Penney, chairman of
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to develop a small piece of land next to an industrial estate was put before a government inspector. Ribble Industrial Estates wanted to develop a four-acre plot of land adjacent to Simonstone Business Park. Planning councillors turned
CHILDREN took part in an Easter playscheme organised by Hyndburn Council at Primetime, Rishton. Among the activities on offer were painting and badminton. The session was just one of the playschemes offered by the council over the holiday period. Pictured
BENETTON is known as much for its controversial advertising as the clothing it sells. One of its latest campaigns features prisoners on America's death row. The company has set up a website featuring interviews with several prisoners waiting to die. Whether
THE silliest internet survey of the week reveals that almost a quarter of online shoppers do so in their underwear. And the study by online sales site Intersaver.co.uk found five per cent of e-shoppers buy online totally naked. But pyjamas are the outfit
LOW staffing levels at an East Lancashire mental health hospital are leading to more assaults by patients, according to unions. Unison also say there are higher sickness levels among stressed workers at Calderstones in Whalley. Patients do not receive
BBC Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq is hosting what claims to be the UK's first official independent MP3 chart. Net users are asked to vote for songs in the Clickmusic chart, compiled from artists on all the major UK MP3 sites with legally downloadable tracks
THE BBC is using a high-tech version of messages in a bottle to let viewers contact the stars of the documentary Castaway 2000. The Beeb is inviting people to send e-mails to the volunteers marooned on the Hebridean island of Taransay as part of a year-long
Fans who have pre-booked on the Burnley FC Supporters Club coach for the Scunthorpe game, a week on Saturday, but haven't got tickets for the match, are being asked to ring Trevor Bartley on 01282 777108.
THE Clarets ran the rule over Everton striker Gary Dempsey, who played in their Pontin's League goalless draw at West Brom last night. The teenager, who has just completed his first season as a professional, is one of six being released at the end of
IN-FORM Clarets midfielder John Mullin insists Burnley are optimistic about winning automatic promotion as they prepare for what could be their final home game of a dramatic season. Two wins in three days over the Easter weekend means the Clarets are
IT'S just as well that Clarets chairman Barry Kilby is used to working with figures. And the fact that he's made a tidy sum out of lottery games may also come in handy as Burnley approach their final two games of the campaign with their destiny still
JOHN Williams today admitted it will be 'extremely difficult' for a club like Blackburn Rovers to ever lift the Premier League championship again. Reacting to comments made by former Rovers keeper, Tim Flowers, the Ewood chief executive agrees that a
RICHARD Robinson has joined the audit department at accountants Cassons. The 26-year-old has been appointed to the Burnley firm after completing his training at a firm in Nelson. The former St Theodore's pupil is an economics graduate.
A DOCUMENT management firm is celebrating a record breaking order book. Cad-Capture has won a clutch of contracts recently including work for Norweb, Wokingham District Council and Hammersmith and Fulham Council. The contracts include work scanning paper
CURIOSITY got the better of little Benjamin Martin (pictured) when his brother and friend burst through the front door to play. The mischievous three-year-old popped his head through the stair bannister rail to get a better look -- and ended up getting
MILLIONS of pounds in compensation is being paid out to householders affected by the M65 extension. Although the new stretch of motorway was opened more than two years ago, payments for the effects it has had on the value of homes are only just starting
MAYORESS Janet Neal (pictured) is terrified of heights. But she will take the plunge from the Army Death Slide when she attends the annual Mayor's Charity Day in Newhallhey, Rawtenstall, on Sunday. Rossendale's First Lady was persuaded by town crier Peter
A TRUST has taken over the running of Whitworth Civic Hall from Rossendale Council. Whitworth Recreation and Leisure Trust comprises members of several organisations including Hallford Theatre Group, Cancer Support Group, Whitworth Amateurs and the Historical
A TEAM of marathon men received a fund-raising boost from a Blackburn supermarket. Three workers from Blackburn Rovers and three of their friends completed the London Marathon to raise cash for the Winged Fellowship Trust, which sends disabled people
NEW education task forces to tackle unruly and disruptive children are to be set up in East Lancashire secondary schools as part of a £30million scheme to raise standards. Thousands of pounds of extra funding secured by the local education authority at
GLEN Chapple today launched a bid to recapture his place in Lancashire's Benson and Hedges Cup. The 26-year-old seamer lost out to Mike Smethurst in the vital qualifier against Leicester last Monday -- and saw the newcomer emerge as a hero in a match-winning
St Aidan's Arts Group present Mother Goose, in the school hall, Mill Hill, Blackburn, 7.15pm. Until Saturday. Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 'Opera Classics' with Blackburn Music Society, King George's Hall, Blackburn,7.30pm. The Ultimate Pops
Food news with Amanda Killelea MUSHROOM AND RICOTTA TARTLETS 375g pack of ready rolled vegetarian shortcrust pastry 3tbsp vegetable oil 1 large onion halved and thinly sliced 250g button mushrooms thickly sliced 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs 3 large eggs 250g
Food News, with Amanda Killelea TIGER PRAWN, BACON AND AVOCADO KEBABS 8 rashers of lean bacon, with the rinds removed 2 large avocados, stoned, peeled and cut into chunks 12 raw tiger prawns, peeled 8 spring onions 2 tbsps olive oil 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
TIM Flowers has lost his powers -- of thought. Like a keeper flapping at a cross, Flowers could have handled the issue of Manchester United's domination of the Premiership much better. The former Rovers keeper believes that it's no longer possible for
WE are carrying out research into the effects of evacuation during the Second World War. We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who were not themselves evacuated but who lived where evacuees were billeted -- those who billeted evacuees
IT being a slow day with nothing on the telly, I was reduced to reading the leaflet about best value that was delivered with my council tax bill. It would appear that, at best, Blackburn's services are delivered at marginally over a 50 per cent efficiency
WHILE Lib-Dem candidate Edmund Critchley has some valid points regarding the lack of choice on offer from the government regarding new local government structures (Letters, April 18). What he doesn't say is that local Liberal Democrats are in favour of
HOSPITAL wards earmarked for weekend closure are to remain open after a cash boost and long waiting lists prompted a U-turn by health bosses. Burnley Health Trust directors yesterday scrapped the money-saving scheme to cut the dermatology and urology
MILLIONS of pounds in compensation is being paid out to householders affected by the M65 extension. Although the new stretch of motorway was opened more than two years ago, payments for the effects it has had on the value of homes are only just starting
JOHN Williams today admitted it will be 'extremely difficult' for a club like Blackburn Rovers to ever lift the Premier League championship again. Reacting to comments made by former Rovers keeper, Tim Flowers, the Ewood chief executive agrees that a
STAFF were in tears when they saw the fire damage caused in an arson attack on Stoneyholme Primary School, Burnley. "Everyone was naturally upset and there were some tears when staff saw the damage for the first time," said headteacher Colin Wills. Four
PENDLE probably has the highest percentage of low value homes in the country, says MP Gordon Prentice. And Burnley isn't far behind, says the MP who is calling for the introduction of a council tax band lower than the present bottom rung Band A for homes
TALKS between management and unions at Lucas factories in Burnley started after a strike vote by thousands of union members at the town's automotive plants. Engineering union official Mike Cooney said it looked as though a basis for an agreement would
SECRETARY of state for education and employment David Blunkett was visiting Hyndburn today to discuss a Government scheme aimed at improving opportunities for young children. Mr Blunkett was due to talk to parents and children at Elmfield Hall, Gatty
YOUNGSTERS have been enjoying a wonderful time during a fun-filled week of Lancashire FA coaching sessions at Haslingden Sports Centre. Lancashire FA coaches Wayne Riley, of Accrington, and Dave Finch have been passing on their skills to the group of
IMPROVING opportunities in education and employment were among the issues discussed at a social evening organised by the Hyndburn Asian Community Forum. The event, at the community centre in Portland Street, Accrington, attracted guest speakers including
THE owners of the historic Victorian Arcade (pictured) in Accrington town centre are looking to sell the premises. Birmingham-based In Shops, which is part of Mentmore Abbey, currently owns the complex, which is made up of 21 units and office space above
THE Ribble Valley Mayor and Mayoress, Coun Brian and Pat Collis, enjoyed hot cross buns when they went to a charity coffee morning. The civic foirst couple were also served ith cups of piping hot coffee from Yvonne Hartlebury (pictured centre) and helpers
AS a Scot, I sometimes find the English way of doing things a bit confusing. I've lived in England for five years now and I still can't work out the difference between teacakes, baps and barms. They're all rolls to me. If only I'd had the "How to do it
A LITTLE boy with cerebral palsy is over the moon thanks to vintage car enthusiast Bob Edwards. For Bob raised more than £1,000 by driving his 1936 Austin Seven Ruby from John O'Groats to Lands End. Martin and Rachel Houghton, both 24, of Peel Street,
A FEW months ago there was a lot of buzz about the Hunger Site. This was a web page which claimed sponsors would donate money to anti-hunger charities every time a net user clicked on the page. Now an "online community for activists", Eactivism, has set
FSauctions, the Freeserve auction channel, has secured an entire Concorde aircraft as the centrepiece for a major online promotion which will give visitors to www.fsauctions.co.uk the opportunity to bid on over 50 'chance of a lifetime' items. The auction
West Bromwich Albion Reserves 0 Burnley Reserves 0 GOALKEEPER Craig Mawson pulled off a cracking second half save last night to ensure Burnley reserves completed their league programme with a battling draw at the Hawthorns. Albion looked set to steal
IN-FORM Clarets midfielder John Mullin insists Burnley are optimistic about winning automatic promotion as they prepare for what could be their final home game of a dramatic season. Two wins in three days over the Easter weekend means the Clarets are
A MEDICAL firm has won a top award for its safety record. Medex Medical of St Crispin Way, Haslingden, has been awarded the accolade by the British Safety Council. The firm, which manufactures sterile disposable medical products, had to demonstrate lower
UNION leaders representing thousands of East Lancashire manufacturing workers have warned major job losses in the industry will continue unless the Government acts. The GMB claims jobs 250,000 have been lost in manufacturing -- which dominates the local
MILL workers toasted a very special anniversary with a glass of sparkling wine and a slice of cake. The lunch was part of Golden Jubilee celebrations at Herbert Parkinson in Darwen, which is a branch of the John Lewis Partnership. Every member of staff
CARL Briggs (pictured) has a plea for the East Lancashire public: Let Me Entertain You! The 26-year-old from Prunella Drive, Lower Darwen, is hoping to make it big as a Robbie Williams impersonator. He believes he has what it takes to emulate the style
BAND members Brian Gilbert and Michelle Collinge (pictured) found time out from their busy schedules to train rookie musicians. Brian, who plays E flat bass, was voted Senior Band Member of the Year with Haslingden and Helmshore Brass Band, while 15-year-old
A WOMAN who owns one of Bacup's most established businesses is considering closing for good after vandals attempted to kick in the front door of her shop. Barbara Kyme (pictured), of Hooley's in Market Street, discovered the damage on Good Friday and
LUCKY youngsters from across a Blackburn estate were handed free Easter eggs thanks to a children's charity. Barnardos held a special activity day on the Shadsworth estate and distributed more than 200 chocolate eggs to local children. The Easter eggs
SHOPPERS who want to vote while they're in Blackburn or Darwen town centre on Saturday are urged to bring their polling cards to avoid being stuck in queues. And election cheats who think they can take advantage of the early voting system have been warned
AN ARMY of volunteers is being recruited to help young people turn over a new leaf after they have fallen foul of the law, as part of a pioneering pilot scheme. Blackburn with Darwen Council is appealing for citizens of the borough to sit on a new panel
Cheadle Town 3 Rossendale United 3 ROSSENDALE needed all three points to keep any hopes of catching second club Newcastle Town alive but had to settle for a point in FNWTL Division One. Rossendale fought back from two goals down to almost steal all three
