A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Blackburn Rambling Association, Oddfellows Hall, Regent Street, Blackburn, 8pm. Creative Writing: Moving On, Clitheroe Library, 7pm. Organ Recital, Blackburn Cathedral
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. The Pendle Jazzmen, Bull and Butcher, Manchester Road, Burnley, 9pm. Chetham's School of Music Concert, Clitheroe Library, 2pm. Railway Correspondents and Travel Society
SUCH is the extent of the drugs curse in East Lancashire that there can hardly be a family that has not been tainted by it -- if not with a relative or neighbour snared as an addict, then as victim or acquaintance of someone who has suffered the rampant
FOLLOWING the movement of Twites in the Burnley area during the cold spell of early January, I expected an influx of a fascinating bird called the waxwing. What I did not expect was for birds to turn up in Blackburn! The waxwing is around seven inches
SOUTH Ribble's mayor is challenging celebrity chefs to cook up a real treat for his charity fund. Coun David Pownall has asked Nigel Smith, chef at the Feilden Arms, Mellor, to help him make a special dish against the clock. Coun Pownall will be battling
WITH outside agencies as well as the local council looking after asylum seekers, what is the true number in this area? Does anyone know? TREVOR MAXFIELD, Clifton Street, Darwen.
DYLAN is a black and white, medium sized, male cross English Bullterrier, who is about three years old. He was admitted to the Manchester Dogs' Home on the 9th November 2002. He was collected from the police in Longsight after he was found wandering in
SO, a quarter of the UK's Forces are to be sent to the Gulf. What the devil is this country up to? Remember, the MP for Blackburn, Jack Straw, is also Foreign Secretary. He ought to know what's going on. Let's have a word, Jack. W TRINDER (Mr), Livesey
REGARDING the views on flying the country's flag (Letters, January 22), yes, it is regarded as politically incorrect for us to be proud to be English -- because, if we fly the flag, we are classed as racists. Only in this country could someone be so stupid
WILBUR is a medium-sized black and tan cross breed dog. He was picked up by the Rochdale Dog Warden when he was found wandering in the area on the 12th August 2002. As Wilbur is only approximately two years old, it means that he has spent almost a quarter
IN response to Mr Neil Townsend's remarks (Letters, January 14) about the new health centre to be built over the astroturf pitch at Darwen Leisure Centre, I really like his suggestion that the footballers use Blacksnape Playing Fields. However, as we
MANCHESTER Dogs' Home is looking for an owner for an exceptional dog. Frodo, a large brindle and white cross Mastiff/Bullterrier was admitted to the Home on the 28th December 2002. He was collected from the Manchester Police after a member of the public
COPIES have been sent to me of your report (LET, December 16) about the new blue plaque erected on the wall of the Swan and Royal Hotel, Castle Street, Clitheroe, to commemorate the deal signed there in 1942 for the development of Sir Frank Whittle's
SO it is Fulham away in the fifth round of the FA Cup. You would think after a 20 year wait the Clarets would be entitled to have a tie with a little more glamour, a little more spice. Either that or a tasty little home draw that would have allowed the
A MURDER inquiry was launched today after the body of a teenager was discovered near a pub. Eamonn McDonagh, 17, who was from a family of travellers living near Ewood, was found by his family at 6am today at the back of the Moorings, Bolton Road, Blackburn
Flixton 0 Leigh RMI 7 by Martyn Hindley RMI ran riot at Valley Road last night - their biggest victory since coming to Leigh taking them into the Lancashire Cup quarter-final. The Railwaymen will now meet either Rossendale United or Marine in the last
HARRIERS Tom Boardman and Anne Powell were the individual Leigh squad stars at the Northern Cross Country championships. Both finished in unlucky 13th spot in their high class fields at the Heaton Park, Manchester, competition on Saturday. The U17 girls
WEST HAM boss Glenn Roeder will turn to veteran striker Les Ferdinand as the man to bail his side out of the relegation mire - starting against Rovers tonight. Ferdinand linked up with the Hammers last week on a short-term contract after severing his
BLACKBURN Rovers' two Academy teams had to dig deep to secure two vital results in the North East at the weekend. Rob Kelly's Under 19s maintained their position at the top-of-the-table with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against nearest rivals Newcastle United
GRAEME Souness today backed relegation-haunted West Ham to win their battle against the drop - but not before Rovers try to plunge them into deeper trouble at Upton Park tonight. Rovers head for the capital hoping to become the latest side to turn up
BLACKBURN striker Egil Ostenstad today admitted he has to do a 'double-take' whenever he sees West Ham propping up the rest of the Premiership. The Norwegian international might be hoping to add to the Hammers misery by playing a part in a Rovers victory
A SERIES of high-tech police initiatives have been launched in East Lancashire as part of a special operation designed to deter criminal activity. Operation Forcefield, which began in Pennine Division yesterday, will see extra police officers in Burnley
ROADWORKS in Burnley have resulted in a series of diversions in time for Saturday's football match. The Clarets expect a moderate crowd for the game against Reading at Turf Moor. Roadworks have closed Higgin Street to traffic for 13 weeks and Lyndhurst
THE brains behind a massive North West drugs operation has been ordered to sell his luxury house and give back the profits of his crimes. Matthew Glover, the "evil genius" of The Firm, was jailed for 25 years last year for masterminding a gang which dealt
SOCCER mad actor Ralf Little is preparing himself for a football tour of Africa. The star of the BBC's popular Royle Family is polishing his boots in readiness for a series of matches against local African sides. He will be using the skills he learned
RESIDENTS in Nelson have been finding out more about plans to develop the St Philip's Family Support Centre, in Leeds Road. They were invited to pop along to the centre to discuss the proposals for creating a children's play-area and community gardens
PROSECUTORS are considering criminal charges over the vote rigging allegations which blighted last year's Pendle Council elections. The move follows a lengthy police investigation into claims and counter claims by Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Police
A FORMER policeman has been cleared of drink driving following a trial. Matthew John Hanson, aged 27, of Warwick Road, Radcliffe, had denied a charge of driving in Warwick Road, Coventry Road and Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, with twice the legal level of
DIANE Hawkins, of Fawcett Close, Blackburn, raised a cyberpet to the grand old age of 49 and asked if she had broken any records. Diane's mum Paula said she heard the record was 30 years.
BLACKBURN ran in four second-half tries to stay top of the table after soaking up the pressure from Liverpool. The Development team went in 8-0 down at the break but came out all guns blazing in the second period with centre Nick Archer scoring a brace
ROSSENDALE'S faint hopes of a play-off place faded as they went down to promotion-chasing Penrith. Despite a gutsy and spirited performance, Dale succumbed to a team on top of their game. Playing with the wind on their backs in the first half, Dale failed
HAVE you left school in the last 10 years or are you about to leave in the next five? Wigan and Leigh Scope would like to hear from young disabled people and their families who would like to attend their Reach for the Stars seminar. They would like to
WORK has begun to resurface the busy A665 Bury Old Road at Prestwich. The work is expected to last about 14 weeks, during which the the pavement kerbs and flags on both sides of the road will be replaced.
THIEVES stole property from cars after smashing their windows in seperate attacks in Whitefield and Bury yesterday. A radio worth £200 was stolen from a 65-year-old woman's Ford Fiesta in Apden Road, Prestwich at 4pm and a CD player worth £1,700 was stolen
ONE of Ribchester's best known characters, Jim Ridge, who was for many years the curator of the village's Roman Museum, has died. The former teacher, who once worked at Broughton High School, lived close to the museum and the back garden of his cottage
STUDENTS at Stonyhurst College discovered jail was far from being a holiday camp, after sampling life in a prison cell. Prison governor Bob Newton demonstrated to the students the difficulties of overcrowding faced by the prison service using a mock-up
A BATTLING 85-year-old councillor is calling on East Lancashire people to fight regional government in the North West -- not war in Iraq. Ribble Valley councillor Charles Warkman, who served as a Royal Air Force radar mechanic during the Second World
THE last time Greece played an international match, Burnley striker Dimitri Papadopoulos collected his first full cap. Today, as they play their latest friendly in Cyprus, he will be hoping to press his claims for a place in Stan Ternent's side. The 21
THE Clarets victory at Griffin Park on Saturday was the 100th in a competitive game since Stan Ternent took charge - not that the manager is counting. "I did not realise until I read it in the paper the other day," he confessed as he reflected on four
MASKED raiders armed with an axe and a knife burst into a Post Office and stole cash. Two robbers walked into Park Lane Post Office in Whitefield at 10.30am on Thursday and threatened shocked staff and customers inside. They stole a small quantity of
THIEF Raymond Craig was a heinous rat when he stole rings from the fingers of an elderly woman patient in hospital. But isn't it appalling that just days after coming out of prison for that despicable crime, he was caught doing the same sort of thing?
Witton Albion...2 Radcliffe Borough...2 - A GOAL ten minutes from time denied Boro a victory against fellow promotion hopefuls Witton, but a draw was a fair result in an end-to-end encounter. Leading scorer Jody Banim was restored to the Boro line-up
GARETH Taylor admitted he will treading on egg-shells against Reading on Saturday, aware that any yellow card will see him banned for the FA Cup clash at Fulham. But he confessed: "I have to go out and play my normal game and just hope I do not get another
GRAEME Souness today backed relegation-haunted West Ham to win their battle against the drop - but not before Rovers try to plunge them into deeper trouble at Upton Park tonight. Rovers head for the capital hoping to become the latest side to turn up
TIRED shoppers in Darwen are in for a treat on Saturday, February 8. Staff at Snowdrops Therapy Centre have come up with a unique way of soothing and relaxing shoppers by offering massages throughout the day. Experts from the newly established centre
A MOTHER is to be questioned by police after a house fire which left two of her children seriously ill, it was revealed today. Anne Eaves will be asked about the blaze in Argyle Street, Darwen, at around 3.15am on Sunday. There is no suggestion that the
*CAMPAIGNERS who want the M65 Services name changed from Blackburn to Darwen could be on the verge of victory. After five weeks of protests, the company which advises the Highways Agency on the naming of signs is recommending it be altered. But the Highways
A MAN presented his pregnant girlfriend with a £1,200 home theatre system for Christmas -- but a court heard he had stolen it the night before. Burnley magistrates were told Jason James Joyce, 24, had raided a Rossendale electrical shop on Christmas Eve
TWO bogus callers stole a valuable ring from the home of a woman in her 80s. A man and a woman told the pensioner they had come to check furniture at her home in Pink Place, Witton, Blackburn. Once inside, they asked for a drink of water. She was out
A PEOPLE'S Network, which aims to give all residents access to the Internet, has been unveiled at East Lancashire libraries. The £2.1million project, one of the largest scheme's of its kind, includes the installation of than 930 computers in the county
BLACKBURN Rovers have defended themselves after a healthy eating watchdog accused the club of compromising education campaigns through its sponsorship link from Coca Cola. Rovers are among nine Premiership clubs, including Manchester United and Tottenham
A SIX-YEAR-OLD schoolboy has died of meningitis less than 24 hours after contracting the disease. And Danial Sharif Anwar's older brother was today in hospital after being struck down with a suspected case of the bug. Danial, of Delph Approach, Shadsworth
ACCRINGTON Stanley are at home to Lancaster City in the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy tonight, not away, as printed in today's Lancashire Evening Telegraph. The teams are playing for a place in the semi-final. The game kicks off at the Crown Ground at
BLACKBURN Hawks ran high-flying hosts Sheffield Scimitars very close in a pulsating Northern Cup tie at Queen Road, Sheffield. The Hawks looked dead and buried after the first period as the Scimitars, unbeaten this season, raced into a 6-1 lead. But imbued
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman described his side's first away win for four months as 'a relief'. The Reds beat Burscough 1-0 at Victoria Park on Saturday and Coleman hopes that confidence will spill over into tonight's game against Lancaster City
PEOPLE in Darwen have long protested that they are treated as second class citizens. Many believe 'Big Brother' Blackburn always gets a better deal than their town. The gesture of including them by name in the unitary borough's "Blackburn with Darwen"
NOT too long ago the reed bunting could be regarded as a common bird. This is not the case at the moment. I saw a male feeding in my garden last week but there is no doubt that the species is struggling. The problems have been caused by the over-use of
HERONS breed in fairly large colonies. Adult birds can arrive in the heronry as early as February but the breeding success does depend upon how well the female birds fare in January. Eggs only develop properly when the females are well fed. If the feeding
BILLY is a medium-sized black and tan cross breed dog. He was picked up by the Tameside Dog Warden when he was wandering in the Denton area on the 27th June 2002. He is approximately five years old and has spent almost seven months at Manchester Dogs'
REGARDING the resignation of Blackburn councillor Charles Mills from the board of Twin Valley Homes in disagreement over a tenant being evicted for having an untidy garden (LET, January 17). For several years, as chairman of the former Bank Top Community
A SECOND Atherton post office has been earmarked for closure as part of a programme to axe struggling urban branches. Wigan Road Post Office is expected to shut in April, just a month after Hindsford Post Office in Tyldesley Road closes its doors for
A DOCTOR has been struck off after he hired a man convicted of kidnapping, forgery and assault to work at his surgery. Dr Colin Ogdon, from Holcombe, was banned from practising after the General Medical Council heard that he gave Darren Gerrard access
A SIX-YEAR-OLD schoolboy has died of meningitis less than 24 hours after contracting the disease. And Danial Sharif Anwar's older brother was today in hospital after being struck down with a suspected case of the bug. Danial, of Delph Approach, Shadsworth
ONCE upon a time the FA Cup used to be considered the greatest Cup competition in the world. But thanks to the attitude of clubs like Bolton and Sunderland that reputation has since been tarnished and it's about time the FA took the strongest possible
THIS play is something of a rarity -- a comedy about that most serious of organisations, the Inland Revenue. But not only that, it is a comedy with a sharp twist in its tail, that keeps the audience guessing about what's going to happen right up until
A STUDENT who drove a new Mini Cooper on to Blackpool beach while he was over the alcohol limit, has escaped a driving ban. Rory Mulderrig, 22, of Wheatley Lane, Fence, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol but his application not to be disqualified
WORSTHORNE Scouts meet on Mondays at 8pm and have 22 members at present but will lose a few in May. Over the next few weeks they will be practising knots and map reading. They will also be entering a team in the Butlins Swimathon in March to raise money
BURNLEY College has been praised by a charity for a course which helps students who have suffered mental health problems. Stepping into Access has been designed to enable mental health sufferers to access education and training through both non-vocational
THE Samaritans are joining forces with Burnley FC as part of a unique bid to cut down on the number of young men committing suicide. The campaign, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, will see a massive publicity push for the charity's
FAMILY doctor services are facing a crisis if GP vacancies continue to rise, it was claimed today. A British Medical Association's study showed vacancy levels in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale rose in the last three months. The area had the fifth worst
PENNINE Police today issued a warning to gun shops and owners after it was revealed that some imitation weapons can easily be converted into working firearms. Officers said some models could even require a firearms licence. The warning follows the seizure
SCHOOLS in Pendle will benefit from a £150,000 government grant to carry out pioneering research into dyslexia, modern foreign languages and accelerated learning. It is hoped that their research will play an important part in shaping the national curriculum
CHILDREN and staff at a Colne school have collecting paper, cans and plastics for a new recycling project. Primet High is working with Pendle Borough Council to raise awareness of recycling issues. Rachel O'Sullivan, a teacher at the school said: "The
AN elderly man was rescued from a house in North Valley Road, Colne, last night. Non-striking retained firefighters from Colne were sent to the address after it was reported there was a fire and two people were inside. A neighbour had telephoned the fire
THE work of Pendle Council's benefits section was due to come under the spotlight today when government minister Malcolm Wicks visited the borough. Mr Wicks, minister with responsibility for housing benefit and fraud at the Department of Works and Pensions
A COLNE father has shown he has got what it takes to be a TV presenter after winning the chance to be a game show host. John Burns, 34, of Burnley Road, entered a competition in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph to win a presenting spot on the Sky new
PAUL Ryan scored another hat-trick of tries but it was fly half Spike Joyce who orchestrated another fine victory. Ryan scored once in the first half and twice after the break to take his season's total to 30 but it was Joyce who pulled the strings. Manager
EVEN Robert Burns would have been proud of the traditional Scottish tribute paid to him by catering students at Accrington and Rossendale College. The haggis was piped in by Donald McKenzie of Blackburn and District Scottish Society for the five-course
PAUL Kidd has vowed not to turn his back on Accrington Rugby League after ending a 10 year association with the club to become the assistant coach at Swinton. The former prop joins the National League Division Two side to pursue his own ambitions in the
THE annual memorial service for The Accrington Pals will be held in St John the Evangelist church on Sunday, February 23, 2.45pm for 3pm. The 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington), The East Lancashire Regiment held their valedictory church parade at St
A TEENAGER has visited the site of an horrific accident that left him with a fractured skull. Keiran Rhodes-Taylor was being trained on a machine, which flattens bags, when the accident happened at Joseph Metcalf Ltd, in Oswaldtwistle, The 18-year-old
A RESERVOIR is to undergo an urgent inspection amid fears it could burst its banks and deluge nearby houses. County Coun Tim Ormrod, cabinet member for public protection and rural affairs, has arranged an inspection of Hameldon Reservoir, which he fears
CHORLEY came from behind to embarrass Conference high-flyers Morecambe with a stunning victory in the second round of the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy at Christie Park last night. The Shrimps manager Jim Harvey's gamble in resting half his regular first-teamers
BURNLEY'S young players may have lost to Tranmere Rovers in the Lancashire FA Youth Cup but coach Terry Pashley was delighted with their efforts. The 1-0 extra time defeat at Turf Moor on Monday night was hard on a side packed with schoolboys but Pashley
GARETH Taylor admitted he will treading on egg-shells against Reading on Saturday, aware that any yellow card will see him banned for the FA Cup clash at Fulham. But he confessed: "I have to go out and play my normal game and just hope I do not get another
MORE than 200 Prestwich householders were forced to leave their homes during an early morning gas blast alert. And the town's Longfield Suite served as a temporary shelter for around 55 people who were among those evacuated following Thursday morning's
PREPARE to be enchanted by the classic beauty of Swan Lake as it glides into the Manchester Opera House this week. The romantic tragedy, featuring Tchaikovsky's haunting music and Marius Petipa's original choreography, will be performed by the Chisinau
WELCOME as they are in themselves, I am left in the dark by the notion that the hundreds of extra street lights that are to be erected in East Lancashire at huge public expense will cut crime. Yet, the advocates of the schemes -- 50 of which were submitted
Radcliffe Amateurs...3 Rivington...0 - FIVE weeks without a game due to the recent adverse weather conditions, meant a stern test for Radcliffe Amateurs on Saturday. The opposition at Outwood Road were Rivington. Both teams were a little tense at the
STRUGGLING East Lancashire carpet manufacturer Gaskell plc has completed the sale of its tile division in a £17million deal. And as part of a bid to clear its debts, the company has also sold property interests in Kidderminster for a further £3.1 million
ST Cuthbert's Amateur Dramatic Society in Darwen is looking for keen artists to paint pantomime scenery. The society, accredited by the National Operatic and Dramatic Organisation, will be performing a farce this year and a pantomime in January 2004.
TICKETS are now on sale for Honor Blackman's solo show 'Wayward Women' at the Darwen Library Theatre on March 8. The show by the former Avengers star, who also played Pussy Galore in the James Bond film 'Goldfinger', will feature songs and monologues
A COMPANY manager is urging people to 'buy local' with a series of hard-hitting posters in Darwen. Ashley Reece, 30, won the backing of councillors and market traders after he decided to campaign to keep trade in the town. Ashley, manager of Corporate
THE MAYOR'S ball has been given the go-ahead at Bacup's Leisure Hall -- despite concerns that the venue is too small. Jimmy Eaton, Rossendale's Mayor, feels the council have let him down after agreeing to let him use the Astoria last year. He said there
ANTIQUES enthusiast Paul Morris has bid farewell to Daniel Thwaites after a memorable 30 years at the Blackburn brewery. The 57-year-old from Mount St James, Knuzden, has called time on his association with the brewers to continue his lifelong hunt for
A MURDER inquiry was launched today after the body of a teenager was discovered near a pub. The 17-year-old -- who was from a family of travellers living near Ewood-- was found at 6am at the back of the Moorings, Bolton Road, Blackburn. The man was taken
BLACKBURN with Darwen music service has hit the right note in national awards despite being one of the youngest of its kind to enter. The music service was awarded an Honourable Mention in the 2002 National Music Council Local Education Authority Music
SPECIALIST consultants are being brought in to help a council which wants to see a high-quality hotel created in Blackburn. Blackburn with Darwen Council is due to appoint an unnamed firm before the end of this week. The consultant's role will be to establish
A MURDER inquiry was launched today after the body of a teenager was discovered near a pub. Eamonn McDonagh, 17, who was from a family of travellers living near Ewood, was found by his family at 6am today at the back of the Moorings, Bolton Road, Blackburn
THE right-wing National Front is targeting Blackburn -- claiming people are deserting the BNP because it 'has gone soft'. And the man behind the new group -- Mark Cotterill -- today said he counted a former Ku Klux Klan leader among his close friends,
OUT-OF-SORTS striker David Healy has joined Norwich on a month's loan deal. The 22-year-old has struggled to hit the back of the net this season, bagging just five goals from 30 appearances. And with new boys Simon Lynch and George Koumantarakis impressing
The latest league tables for schools in Wigan and Salford, Bolton and Bury are now online on This is Leigh. Find out how schools in your area fared by clicking on the following link: www.thisisleigh.co.uk/education/schooltables.html
THREE people were arrested under the Terrorism Act in dawn raids across Greater Manchester today. One of the men aged 35, who is of North African origin, was arrested at a house in Deal Street, Bury. Officers from Scotland Yard's anti terrorist branch
