IN the continuing controversy over what type of offenders are at the medium secure unit at Calderstones Hospital at Whalley, Nigel Robinson, chief officer of the watchdog Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council, today hits back
SOME £900million has been wasted on the Dome. How many hospitals could that build? Surely, this is a national scandal and a tremendous waste of the people's assets. Those responsible should go now and the Dome scrapped. LESLIE SCOTT, Assheton Road, Blackburn
ORIGINALLY from Blackburn, which I last visited in 1998, I now live in Australia, with the rest of my 'pommie' family, but I never realised how hard it would be to find my old friends. I attended Roe Lee Primary School until Grade 2 in 1986 and can hardly
I AM now back in Australia after two months' holiday in Britain, staying with my sister in Blackburn, where I was born in 1931 and where I went to school and worked. Of all the places, I visited -- Chester, York, Land's End, The Lake District and Scotland
I NOTICE that Nigel Evans, MP for Ribble Valley, East Lancashire's very own 'Vicar of Bray,' who trimmed his views to suit the political fashion of the time, is calling for the Dome to be closed. A quick scan through your archives might enlighten readers
YET again, John Blunt puts the boot in to the young people of East Lancashire and, in the process, puts his foot in his mouth. Am I right in thinking that in his article 'A lesson in self delusion' (LET, September 6) Mr Blunt is advocating throwing a
I AM sure that many others who, like me, pay the full Council Tax, wonder why local Authorities like Burnley allow so many people to get away with fraud on housing benefit and why only 35 per cent of tenants pay rent for their properties (LET, August
THOUSANDS of drivers across East Lancashire were caught up in the petrol crisis today with many stations running out and motorists queuing nearly an hour for fuel at others. A large number of petrol stations ran out of fuel this morning with many more
BLACKBURN new-boy Henning Berg believes the good times could soon be back at Ewood after helping his new team-mates demolish Nottingham Forest at the weekend. The Norwegian international, who signed in a three-month loan deal from Manchester United on
Blackburn Rovers 3 Nottingham Forest 0 GRAEME Souness used to be known as Champagne Charlie because of a flamboyant lifestyle off the pitch. And, judging by the way his players are starting to strut around with the same air of confidence, they are beginning
SCIENCE teacher Richard Field has been granted a scholarship to study the value of diagrams in schoolwork. Mr Field, of Towneley High School, Burnley, has been awarded a £2,900 Best Practice Research Scholarship by the Department of Education and Employment
YOUNGSTERS from a Burnley primary school are creating their own mini gym following a trip to the Health Club at the Oaks Hotel, Reedley. Four children from Year 2 at Casterton Primary School had a guided tour of the club and took a video recording and
A POCK-faced robber with protruding eyes escaped with a substantial amount of cash after threatening staff at a Burnley betting shop with a metal bar. The robber waited until customers had left Stanley Racing, Briercliffe Road, at the end of Saturday's
A PENSIONER who smashed into a car was said to be two-and-a-half times the drink drive limit -- and told police she had had two sherries. Burnley magistrates heard how Helen Martha Greenwood, 63, a former PTA secretary and charity worker, drove off after
AN East Lancashire football fan who escaped from Hillsborough 11 years ago has written a personal tribute to the 96 people who died in the tragedy. Christopher Whittle, 39, of Leamington Avenue, Burnley, has written a prayer following years of recurring
Looking back with Eric Leaver IT WAS always a job that worked up a thirst -- stoking tons of coal into the roaring retort ovens at the gasworks. But it was when council bosses set about slaking that of the men doing the job at Blackburn 86 years ago that
A TOUGH policy to combat housing and council tax benefit fraud has been adopted by Pendle Council. Anyone who tries to falsely claim benefits could face cash penalties or prosecution under the new blueprint. The policy will ensure that counter fraud drives
COUNCILLORS have blasted a move to give a multinational company a grant to cover the costs of rent and business rates, claiming it is setting a dangerous precedent. Coun Ian Ormerod, leader of the Labour group on Hyndburn Council, says the move by the
MULTI-MILLION pound plans to transform a derelict stately home on the edge of Blackburn could be given the go-ahead on Thursday night. Ribble Valley Councillors are recommended to approve the proposals to turn Woodfold Hall, Mellor, into a club house
CLARETS chief Stan Ternent praised the contribution of match-winner Graham Branch, while admitting that his side had enjoyed a slice of good fortune on their way to a first away win of the season at Selhurst Park. The versatile Branch rose from the bench
CLARETS captain Steve Davis was having treatment on his injured back in London today as he faces a race against time to face First Division leaders Fulham tomorrow night. Davis picked up the knock in the first half of Burnley's 1-0 win at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace 0 Burnley 1 GEORGE Graham, eat your heart out. Stan Ternent is the 1-0 king, according to vanquished Crystal Palace boss Alan Smith after seeing his side end up on the receiving end of a classic sucker-punch. Ternent stressed that Burnley
CLARETS captain Steve Davis was having treatment on his injured back in London today as he faces a race against time to face First Division leaders Fulham tomorrow night. Davis picked up the knock in the first half of Burnley's 1-0 win at Crystal Palace
CUSTOMERS at JD Wetherspoon pubs - including the Postal Order In Blackburn - have been drinking up over the last year and boosting sales at the group. Sales for the year to July 30 leapt 37 per cent to £369.6million, while like-for-like sales, stripping
A COUPLE who were brought together by the Second World War have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Jack and Alice Hacking (pictured) toasted 50 years together on Friday in the Darwen house in which Jack was born 87 years ago. Jack has lived
A FOURSOME of former school friends from Darwen got together for the first time in nearly 50 years after a successful appeal in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. Audrey Peacock, nee Fish, originally from Lorne Street, Darwen, emigrated to Canada in the
A SCHOOL'S bid to gain status as a Performing Arts school has received a cash boost from a local firm. Haslingden High School, in Rossendale, is currently launching a bid to acquire the status which, if successful, would enable both the school and local
TAXI drivers brought Rawtenstall to a standstill today and caused traffic chaos after they mounted a slow-moving protest. Police were inundated with calls from drivers who were unaware of the protest and road blocks were set up around Rawtenstall as many
THOUSANDS of drivers across East Lancashire were caught up in the petrol crisis today with many stations running out and motorists queuing nearly an hour for fuel at others. A large number of petrol stations ran out of fuel this morning with many more
BACUP landed their first Lancashire League title for 40 years -- but not without a tinge of controversy. East Lancs, who needed maximum points to ensure the championship chase went into a play-off, were furious with the attitude of their visitors Lowerhouse
RIBBLESDALE Wanderers professional Shahid Nawaz signed off their championship season with a superb century. The Pakistani pro who has agreed to return to the Clitheroe club for the next two seasons, scored 119 against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel as Wanderers
WARREN Hegg had three reasons to celebrate as Lancashire kept the Championship race alive at Old Trafford this weekend. On Saturday he scored his first century for four years to help secure maximum batting points against Somerset. Then yesterday Hegg,
CHORLEY rounded off their season in the most exhilarating fashion possible with a magnificent win over all-conquering Netherfield in the Slater Cup final. The game proved to be a run feast with Netherfield recovering from 6-2 to post a formidable total
Friends in Bereavement, Day Hospital, Pendle Community Hospital, Leeds Road, Nelson, 7pm. "Images of India." Modern Sequence Dance, Accrington Town Hall, 1.30pm-4pm. Christian Garrick, Gary Potter and The Tommy Melville Quartet, The Rhythm Station, Rawtenstall
TAXI drivers brought Rawtenstall to a standstill today and caused traffic chaos after they mounted a slow-moving protest. Police were inundated with calls from drivers who were unaware of the protest and road blocks were set up around Rawtenstall as many
FOREST boss David Platt believed his side were bullied out of the game at Ewood on Saturday. The former England international was left fuming after his side buckled twice in the opening 20 minutes. And he believes his team need to find more mental toughness
THE eldest daughter of Burnley's first Asian Mayor, Councillor Rafique Malik, is not only making the news, but reading it, too. Rifat Malik, 30, has become a producer and newscaster for Channel 5 news -- but her proud father is not able to watch her in
BURNLEY council is rapidly clearing its backlog of housing benefit claims -- but it could still be "a few months" before the town sees an end to the problem, finance chairman Peter Kenyon told the town council. He said the 2,500-backlog, which recently
A WEALTHY businessman's dream of building a high quality sports and leisure club in the heart of his home town took a massive leap towards reality, as deputy Prime Minister John Prescott gave the go-ahead to the £6million plan. Environment Minister Mr
MORE than 30 firms employing hundreds of people could be forced to move out of part of East Lancashire in the next five years unless they can find space to expand. Booming businesses are crying out for industrial land in Pendle but could be forced to
PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS 17 NOTTINGHAM 32 EARLY pressure from Hoppers forwards saw them drive convincingly but they were held up after reaching the Nottingham line. Hoppers continued to dominate and it was no surprise when the sixth minute saw Paul Bailey
CONSUMERS were warned that herbal remedies on sale in shops across East Lancashire contained potentially lethal poisons. The products were advertised in Asian literature as cures for a variety of medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma and respiratory
THE borough won a slice of National Lottery money from the Millennium Commission. Blackburn and Darwen were awarded £425,000 to clear derelict and unused land. Environmental trust Groundwork, Blackburn Council and various public and private sector organisations
THE leader of a health watchdog has defended the Calderstones medium secure unit and described the possibility of patients absconding as "frankly ludicrous." Nigel Robinson, chief officer of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council
BLACKBURN new-boy Henning Berg believes the good times could soon be back at Ewood after helping his new team-mates demolish Nottingham Forest at the weekend. The Norwegian international, who signed in a three-month loan deal from Manchester United on
STOCKBROKERS raised their glasses to the first year of a long term investment! WH Ireland held a party at the County Hotel, Blackburn to celebrate the first anniversary of their Preston New Road office. Pictured toasting the succesaful year are, from
CYCLING enthusiast Peter Taylor has landed his dream job and a trip to the Olympic Games in Sydney at the same time. Peter, 25, of Whalley Road, Langho, set off for Australia today after being called in to look after British Cycling Team hopeful David
BOSSES who saved a struggling bakery and its workforce are set to create up to 150 new jobs in Blackburn. The move by Interlink Foods -- owners of Crossfield Bakery in the town -- will see around 60 jobs immediately created by January at a new factory
FULL scale construction work is under way at Blackburn railway station after months of demolition of Victorian trackside buildings (see picture). Demolition of the old roof and platform rooms in the complex in the heart of Blackburn started this spring
EAST Lancashire householders who live in constant fear of flooding were today given some practical advice as part of an Environment Agency action week. The agency, responsible for issuing flood warnings throughout England and Wales, said thousands of
THE following students of Blackburn College have been successful in examination for word and text processing: Distinction: D Bridson, S Davies, J Hartland, S Haydon, J Rogers, G Salthouse, J Shaw, E Slater, B Britland, H Hartley, A Mohammed, S Ahmed,
STRIKER Gary Williams has returned to Accrington Stanley for a club record fee. Manager John Coleman is thought to have splashed out less than half the £60,000 fee Doncaster Rovers paid to Stanley in January for the hit man who scored 24 goals during
RAMSBOTTOM made sure of second place behind Bacup as they beat RISHTON by just eight runs to edge East Lancs out of the top two. Going into the final day still in with a chance of the title, professional Brad Hodge again did his best to keep Ramsbottom
ON Saturday BACUP and EAST LANCS maintained their title challenges with wins over LOWERHOUSE and ENFIELD respectively. David Ormerod with 6-33 shone for Bacup, while Claude Henderson with 7-25 was the East Lancs match winner. RAWTENSTALL professional
Accrington Stanley 3, Worksop Town 4 STANLEY were left reeling as Worksop scored four goals in the space of 20 minutes in the second half after the Reds had led 2-0. It was a collapse by Stanley which saw them lose top spot in the UniBond Premier Division
QPR 0 PNE 0 THE BACK injury to Tepi Moilanen gave David Lucas the opportunity of a rare league outing and the Preston keeper took it with both gloves to turn in an at times breathtaking demonstration of goalkeeping at its very best to keep out a second
