Archive

  • Airport weapons charge

    A BRIERFIELD man has appeared in court accused of bringing a cache of weapons into Britain on board a jet. Ghulam Jalani, 44, was arrested at Manchester Airport after customs officers allegedly found a Tazer gun, six knuckle dusters and five flick knives

  • Child abduction fears are eased

    FEARS over a spate of alleged child abduction attempts in Burnley were eased today after police said at least one of the claims was no longer under investigation. Detectives were looking into claims a gang tried to snatch a six-year-old boy from Laithe

  • Armed gang in gun raid on post office

    RAIDERS brandishing a handgun burst into a Rossendale village post office and demanded cash. The attempted robbery, which has rocked the village community, happened at Edenfield Post Office, in Market Street, at around 9am yesterday. Police said two

  • Darwen: Sukhi's Indian Cuisine

    TAKEAWAYS which incorporate the word cuisine' into their title have, in my opinion, got to be that little bit special to get away with it. Fortunately Sukhi's in Darwen has a long-established reputation for quality as a restaurant and its takeaway is

  • Health chief apologises for car parking hiccups

    A HOSPITAL boss has apologised to patients for parking problems at the new hospital. Jo Cubbon, chief executive of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We are experiencing problems with car parking following the opening of the new Royal Blackburn

  • I can’t cut it with festival crowd now

    For the remaining time I have left on this planet I will try my best to get some important messages across. This weekend I will be hoping to attend the annual mela. And the week after I will go to the other festival where they play the loud music.

  • Shoddy way to treat veterans

    AS an ex serviceman eligible to claim the Veterans' Lapel Badge award, I contacted the Veterans' Agency a few weeks ago to place my order. The badge arrived three days later but it had a couple of dents in the face. I contacted the agency, and was told

  • New hospital is something to be proud of

    DURING the course of last week I had to make three visits to Blackburn's two hospitals, Blackburn Royal Infirmary and Queen's Park, fortunately not for myself but to accompany my brother-in-law. I have been doing this for some time now and have become

  • Pensioners’ post fury

    PENSIONERS today hit out over plans to privatise Blackburn's busy town centre post office. Customers, particularly the elderly, who use the Ainsworth Street facility on a daily basis to collect pensions, pay bills and post mail, said they would join

  • Tributes to former school head, 68

    TRIBUTES have been paid to a former headmaster who died suddenly at home. An event was being held today to celebrate the life of grandfather-of-five Cyril Burke, 68, of Glencoe Avenue, Hoddlesden. His funeral was due to be held today at St Peter's Church

  • TV review: Sport Relief, BBC1

    STARS who do a bit of work for charity have suffered ever since Smashy and Nicey did their "but we don't like to talk about it" routine. You do sometimes wonder what the motives behind some celebrity charity work may be particularly when it coincides

  • Sabbath tribute band resurrected

    IT'S the news rock fans across East Lancashire have been waiting for Quazfest is back on August 5. The ultimate tribute rock gig is coming to Burnley's Kestrel Suite. Headlining will be organisers and Black Sabbath tribute band Slack Babbath.

  • Embrace to play Blackburn

    Yorkshire indie rockers are heading over the Pennines to play Blackburn on October 15. It's one of several new dates announced by the band to extend their sell-out tour of the UK. Embrace have had three number one albums, including their last release

  • Arts In The Park: Terri Walker interview

    Soul singer Terri Walker is one of the stars of Blackburn's Arts In Park. We caught up with her ahead of her set on July 23. WHAT a year it has been for the rising star of the British soul scene Terri Walker. Her latest album, I Am, has been receiving

  • Burnley rocked by double blow

    BURNLEY captain Jon Harvey has bemoaned a massive selection blow ahead of tonight's Lancashire League 20/20 final against Rishton. The Turf Moor club travel to Blackburn Road eager to become the competition's second winners, following Haslingden's success

  • Fitness is Coleman’s Bootle aim

    ACCRINGTON Stanley play their third pre-season game in a week when they travel to Bootle tomorrow (kick-off 3pm). The Reds, who kicked off their preparations at home to Burnley last weekend before fielding a number of trialists at Alsager in a fundraising

  • Agents’ fees on the increase for Clarets

    BURNLEY spent almost 19 per cent more on agents fees over the last 12 months compared to the previous year. That is according to a new Football League report revealing sums committed to agents from Championship, League One and League Two clubs during

  • Hughes has eye on Agathe

    MARK Hughes is running the rule over former Celtic winger Didier Agathe. The 30-year-old, who can play out wide on the right or in a deeper role, was made surplus to requirements at Celtic Park after making just four appearances as a sub for the Bhoys

  • Nelsen not for sale, warn Rovers

    BLACKBURN Rovers central defender Ryan Nelsen is not for sale. That's the message coming from Ewood Park after Portsmouth enquired about the New Zealand star's availability last night. The 28-year-old has been a revelation since joining Rovers in January

  • Heart of the matter

    ON day five of our tour of the new £113million Royal Blackburn Hospital, we look at the development's urology and cardiac services. HEART disease is a massive problem in East Lancashire because of dangerous lifestyle habits such as smoking and unhealthy

  • Sneak peek at castle revamp

    THE first images of the £3.2million Clitheroe Castle project were unveiled at a private function aimed at attracting sponsors. The event, hosted by the High Sheriff of Lancashire, was an exclusive look at the plans for the biggest heritage project in

  • Council answers criticism over ‘money making’

    The organsiers of Blackburn Mela have defended their pricing policy after a trader criticised the price of stalls at this weekend's event. Mohammed Taj, who runs a ladies fashion store in Bradford, said he had been told a stall at this year's event,

  • Anglers land a net full of fines

    ILLEGAL anglers caught fines as well as fish in the North West this spring, with 171 illegal fishing cases making it to court between April and June. Fishing without a licence cost illegal anglers in the region a total of £21,485 in fines and costs in

  • Voice of logic is not being heard

    AS the residents' group which initiated action over the environmental impact of Whinney Hill tip and proposed expansion and access, we are still concerned that our voice in this matter has been somewhat neglected. The plans for the waste station and

  • Wheeled away

    BURGLARS used a wheelie bin to cart off more than £2,000 worth of satellite-navigation systems from Argos, in Blackburn Road, Accrington. They forced open a fire door at 11.30pm on Tuesday and stole 15 sat-nav systems, valued at £2,250. Police will

  • Robber facing lengthy stretch

    A 21-YEAR-OLD man from Accrington who robbed an Aldi cashier at knifepoint is facing a long stretch behind bars. Kieran Devlin admitted robbing Lisa Taylor of £166 cash on June 14, when he appeared at Burnley Crown Court. Devlin, of Juniper Court, Huncoat

  • Fall son feared he was paralysed

    A MOTHER today told how her son feared he was paralysed after falling 30ft from the roof of a derelict building. Mandy Frankland, of Stanley Street, Accrington, is now warning other youngsters to stay away from building sites during the school summer

  • ‘Extra mile’ plea

    Volunteers are invited to "go the extra mile" in Clitheroe in aid of Sports Relief tomorrow. People can walk, or run twice around Clitheroe Castle Field, which is exactly a mile. Races are at 11am, with registration at 10.30am; and at 1pm, with

  • Cigs gang cut hole into van

    AN AUDACIOUS gang stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes after cutting a large hole in the side of a delivery van in Blackburn. Police said the raid outside Blackburn Market was probably the work of organised criminals due to the apparent

  • Ex-wife endured stormy marriage

    SHANE Fitzpatrick was a violent man who repeatedly hit his wife during almost 20 years together and hospitalised her more than once. But Fitzpatrick, who worked at Calder Print, Burnley, until his arrest, said the violent behaviour was something he

  • The dodgy business dealings of ‘Jack-the-Lad’ victim

    ACCRINGTON businessman David Guilfoyle was described by associates and even those closest to him as "womaniser" and a "wheeler dealer". At the time of his disappearance, the father-of-one was in a relationship with Debbie Fitzpatrick, Shane Fitzpatrick's

  • Life for brutal killer of ex-wife’s lover

    A MAN has been jailed for life for murdering his ex-wife's lover and disposing of his body in a jealous rage. And today the victim's teenage daughter pleaded with his killer to tell her what he had done with her father's body. A jury found Shane Fitzpatrick

  • This Mela to savour is full of Rich pickings

    LEADING Urban pop band the Rishi Rich Project will be appearing live at this year's Blackburn Mela which takes place over the weekend of July 15 and 16. It is a major coup for Mela organisers and will see Rishi Rich perform alongside the likes of pop

  • Arts In The Park: Lightning Seeds interview

    THE thousands expected to attend Blackburn's free Arts In The Park festival can be guaranteed a vintage performance from Saturday's headline act, The Lightning Seeds. We caught up with mainstay Ian Broudie ahead of the show on July 22. "It will definitely

  • Gallacher’s turning over a new leaf

    FORMER Blackburn Rovers striker Kevin Gallacher has turned author as he looks to give Scottish football a much needed shot in the arm. Gallacher, who won 53 caps for his country, has received critical acclaim for his book "Tartan Turmoil the rise and

  • Out-Standing deal

    BURNLEY are motoring along after landing their biggest ever five-figure sponsorship deal for the Cricket Field Stand. Colne businessman David Fishwick has remained faithful to the Clarets by continuing to pledge his company's name to Turf Moor's 4,500

  • Cotterill can lead Clarets to top six

    I'M very optimistic about Burnley's chances in the Championship next season. This is Steve Cotterill's third year as manager and I'm looking for us to finish in the best league position since he's been at Turf Moor. I'm sure a top-six finish will be

  • Hughes praises Brown

    Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes has applauded Jason Brown's decision to come to Ewood Park. Brown, 23, could have gone to Swansea but decided to move to Blackburn and try and improve under the tutelage of Brad Friedel and Peter Enckelman. And

  • Teen booze crackdown

    TEEN boozers and reckless licensees will be targeted as part of a police campaign aimed at cracking down on alcohol misuse in Rossendale. As part of the county-wide crime crackdown Operation Summer Nights, police in Rossendale say they have launched

  • Young Clarets get fan-tastic gift

    BURNLEY Football Club's stars of tomorrow have been given a boost on the road to success following a £6,000 donation by a fans' website. Members of Clarets Mad have raised over £8,000 towards the Year of the Youth', aimed at fast-tracking teenagers through

  • Police renew attack appeal

    DETECTIVES have renewed an appeal for witnesses after claims a woman was grabbed by the hair and dragged down a back street by a gang of men in a van. The woman, 27, was left with serious leg injuries after being pulled 200 yards down the back alley.

  • Brooms set to fly over Pendle

    AN area of Nelson is set for a brighter future when a blitz against fly tipping and litter takes place this weekend. The council's housing market renewal and neighbourhood management teams as well as ward councillors have help organise a community clean

  • College a shining example

    NELSON and Colne College has been recognised as one of the best learning centres in the country by being awarded the prestigious Beacon Status. The college was just one of a handful of further education colleges in the country to get the title at a ceremony