A COUNCIL leader said her Labour planning committee members would decide the Darwen Leisure Centre application on its own merits. Coun Kate Hollern's pledge came as opposition councillors told of their fears that the committee was becoming "politicised
TWENTY jobs are to be created in Blackburn by a company involved in the £1million rescue of Accrington firm Automotive Applied Technologies (AAT). Maxillia Asset Management has bought local pub operator Cisco Bars and also a stake in Noble Security Group
A GIANT model penguin is migrating south for the remainder of the winter in a bid to cheer up children. The 6ft 6in soft toy replica of Mumbles, star of the Warner Bros animated film Happy Feet, has spent the last two months with youngsters Abigail and
A STREET has spent six months in darkness after developers failed to properly finish the estate. Street lamps were only installed in Fazackerly Close, Fernhurst Farm, Blackburn, by developers Miller Homes in October, three months after families moved
BOSSES of a Barrowford dairy which closed over EU regulations have hit out after a u-turn which meant they would not have needed to shut. Bowland Dairy, Pasture Lane, closed last autumn with the loss of 23 jobs after EU commissioners said its cheese
MORE large-scale public events are set to be staged in Pendle's parks after council chiefs applied to hold performances all year round. Pendle Council's parks department has applied for a five premises licences which would last all year and allow events
Bird flu has hit Britain - but what is the truth behind the headlines? Are we prepared and are the proper control measures in place? Is our poultry still safe to eat? Should we be worried about a potential human pandemic? In this video, TV GP
PLAYERS at Blackburn Drama Club are turning their attentions to the saucy comedy Fur Coat and No Knickers. The hilarious play centres around the wedding of Deirdre Ollernshawe and Mark Greenhalgh. The fun begins when Mark is found chained to a lamppost
PEOPLE in Rossendale with long-term health problems are being offered help to better manage their condition by joining the Expert Patients Programme. The free, six-week course starts in Bacup on Tuesday morning, aiming to encourage Valley residents
COUNTY and borough councillors of all parties are united in their support to keep Rossendale's post offices open. Rossendale Council last week agreed to write to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to express its opposition to the Government's
FOOTBALL bosses have backed a team's plan to hold a tribute in memory of a goalkeeper who collapsed and died during a game. Dave Burgess, chief executive of Lancashire Football Association (LFA), said the organisation would support Trawden FC if the
THREE 11-14 year-olds were caught truanting from school riding on suspected stolen bikes, police said. The children from Darwen Vale High School were stopped by police on Monday riding close to the M65 junction 4. They were on an adult mountain
A PENSIONER was crushed to death after a car he was repairing fell on him, an inquest concluded. Walter Greenfield, 80, of Highfield Drive, Burnley, died 10 days before his diamond wedding anniversary while preparing his Vauxhall Omega car for an MOT
THE ex-boss of the North West Aerospace Alliance has been honoured at a presentation. Dennis Mendoros, the founder chairman of the NWAA, which represents the aerospace industry from its base in Nelson, spent 13 years in his role with the group and its
The chief executive of Northern Foods, the parent company of Baxenden's Holland's Pies, has stepped down. Pat O'Driscoll, who joined the firm in March 2004, is to "pursue opportunities outside of Northern Foods" and has been replaced by Stefan Barden
Several motorists escaped uninjured after a crash involving at least four cars in Burnley. An Audi, a Rover, a Nissan Micra and a Renault Megane, were involved in the accident which happened in Rossendale Road at 3.30pm on Monday. Police and fire
WIDELY regarded as one of the country's top tribute bands, Whole Lotta Led, are rocking into Blackburn on February 9. The band are currently on their sixth annual themed tour. This year the band will be performing the "How The West Was Won" set to celebrate
Blackburn Hawks endured a weekend of mixed fortunes defeating Whitley Warriors in a cracking cup tie on Saturday, but falling against fierce rivals Flintshire Freeze in the league 24 hours later. Hawks overcame their Northern League Cup opponents Whitley
AN EAST Lancashire roadmap of rock has been drawn up, charting the A-list acts who have staged concerts in the area. Music experts have compiled the list after the Enjoy England Tourist Board produced a map of the country's musical heritage. The tourist
THE £3 million super-laundry at Blackburn's new super hospital keeps breaking down, bosses have admitted. Health chiefs are scratching their heads over what is wrong with the laundry at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, Haslingden Road, which opened 18 months
AN HISTORIC former cotton mill can finally be transformed into a museum now that electricity has been restored - after four years. David Armfield began the project to restore the steam engine room of Grane Mill, off Laneside Road, Haslingden, in 1998
Standing 85ft tall on top of a hill 1,200ft high, Darwen tower is one of East Lancashire's best viewpoints. They say that on a clear day you can see the Welsh mountains, Blackpool Tower and Morecambe Bay. Now you can admire the spectacular sights
AS FAR as political hot potatoes go, the issue of discrimination is foil-wrapped and smoking in East Lancashire at the moment. Employers have to demonstrate they do not make decisions based on gender, disability, ethnicity, age, hair colour, eye colour
BOSSES of Homebase told a public inquiry that Clitheroe would miss out on £18m of spending if plans for a store were not approved. But Ribble Valley Borough Council told the hearing - set up to investigate whether the local authority was right to turn
"I'm shocked but very pleased!" said Ken Hacking after seeing his photograph of the lunar eclipse. Ken, from Accrington, shot the picture in three stages. The first part of the image is a pre-eclipse shot, the second is full eclipse and the third
A TEENAGE robber who struck at a bakery has been told he will stay in jail until he no longer poses a risk to the public. Andre Lennox, 19, of Hargrove Avenue, Padiham, pulled off victim Robert McKenna's glasses, threatened him with a rolling pin and
RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say on the future of CCTV in five Pendle towns. Pendle Council wants to gauge the opinion of people in Barnoldswick, Earby, Brierfield, Colne and Nelson as part of a review of the effectiveness of CCTV. An online
CHIEF executive Rob Heys insists it is essential that Accrington Stanley survive relegation from the Football League. With a third of the League Two campaign remaining, the Reds are involved in a scrap with almost a dozen other sides to avoid sinking
BURY boss Chris Casper has been there, done it and worn the T-shirt when it comes to scrapping near the bottom of the Football League. The Shakers finished 19th in their previous League Two campaign, and are currently 17th and seven points off the dropzone
HEREFORD United - who joined Accrington Stanley from the Conference last season - currently sit in a much healthier position than their East Lancashire rivals. But Bulls coach John Trewick admits the Edgar Street club will not sit on their laurels after
FIREFIGHTERS were called to Mitella Street, Burnley, at 2.30pm yesterday, after reports were received that canisters of toxic waste were leaking. Watch manager Peter Ashworth said: "When we attended we found eight canisters, a couple of which were opened
THERE'S always one team that sinks like a stone through a division and I'm just hoping that it isn't us. The bottom line is that we desperately need a win against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday because, without being too panicky, we are now looking
AS England prepare to take on Spain tonight in a friendly at Old Trafford, I can't help thinking Steve McClaren has missed a big opportunity. Blackburn midfielder David Bentley has been in scintillating form this season, and tonight's game with the Spaniards
JOHN Coleman guided Accrington Stanley back into the Football League after a 44 year wait - and he's not about to let all that hard work go to waste. Slipping back into non-league simply isn't an option for the dedicated Reds manager as he works about
EAST Lancashire's hospital authority is set to steer clear of debts during a financial year for the first time, a finance boss believes. But East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust would only be in the black if no "additional pressures" arose, its director
BOSSES of Clitheroe Auction Mart have said the Wednesday night sales will be as lively as ever despite the ban on poultry sales in the wake of the avian flu outbreak. The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) ban on all bird gatherings
A BLACKBURN soldier has impressed with his skiing skills thanks to an Army event in the French Alps. Sgt Robert Donaldson, 31, is taking part in Exercise Pipedown, the skiing championships for British soldiers based in Germany. The tournament is in
A TEENAGER who escaped death when a tree stopped his car from plunging 60ft on to a railway line remains in the Royal Blackburn Hospital with serious leg injuries. The 19-year-old, whose name has not been released, lost control of his silver Peugeot
A DEVELOPER has been appointed to mastermind the long-awaited regeneration of a "neglected" gateway to Hyndburn. Hyndburn Council has announced that Chorley-based Enza Property Group is looking to introduce new homes, restaurants, shops and offices to
A Clitheroe woman who had breached anti-social behaviour orders on 15 previous occasions has been given a chance to break the cycle of offending. Magistrates made Rachel Louise Linford subject to community supervision with a condition she lives at a
PRINCESS Anne will visit Blackburn next month to see the work being done in the borough to help carers. The Princess Royal will visit Blackburn with Darwen Carers' Centre, Oakenhurst Road, in Blackburn town centre on Friday, March 2. She will be visiting
AN arsonist who has set fire to three flats in a community is being hunted by detectives. Police said the arsonist was putting lives at risk as some of the blazes in the Galligreaves area of Blackburn had blocked the homes' only exits. A shed and wheelie
A PLASTERER from Rossendale has died after falling from the fourth floor of a London hotel. Police were called to the Hotel Angela in Shepherd's Bush Road, Hammersmith, and found that Victor Docherty, 36, had fallen from a room. Mr Docherty, a member
A MOTORIST was scalped when the roof of her car was ripped off in a crash - but she survived. The accident happened in Bury Road, Haslingden, at 9.45pm on Monday. Police said Claire Goodwin, from Haslingden, lost control of her Ford Puma, crashing into
FORMER Burnley favourite Gary Cahill believes Eric Djemba-Djemba cannot fail to benefit from his loan spell with the Clarets. The England Under 20 international has first-hand experience of Turf Moor life after spending six months under Steve Cotterill
NEW signing Bruno Berner is determined to prove himself in the Premiership with Blackburn in the hope it will revive his international career. The 29-year-old left-back, who joined Rovers from FC Basel in a cut-price deal before the transfer window slammed
What a change to see a happy headline in the LT (January 30): £1m NHS gift to India. We hope that the equipment can be put to good use and ease the suffering of the people. It is a pity they can't send some of the NHS hospital managers to India and
On the decision to build a new super school on Bent Head, Brierfield: the government said greenfield land should not be built on and, as this is the last green field for recreation, why did Pendle Council agree to this? All the people in Brierfield are
I must commend Mr N Preston of Carrington Avenue for his plea to people to treat Aspergers people with respect. Being a grandmother of a 12-year-old boy, I know how Aspergers syndrome can affect them. When he attended a local junior school, no one had
I AGREE with Mary O'Rourke (LT, January 31). Mr Paul Freely's sexual orientation is his business. I am tolerant, or try to be, of all human conditions, but fail to see why Mr Freely feels the need to parade his sexuality through the town unless it's
I WAS saddened by Mary O'Rourke's letter (LT January 31), not about her opinion as to whether there should be a Gay Pride March in Hyndburn or not, but about her offensive comments about gay people in general. She suggests they should move to Manchester
IT WOULD have been easy for director Mira King to turn her documentary Strictly Baby Ballroom into a mickey-take of the pushy parents and downtrodden kids in the world of children's ballroom dancing. But rather than do the obvious, she made sure the
A ROW has been prompted because all the traffic police in Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley were off duty on Friday night to attend a party. The move to allow the officers time off together has been slammed as "appalling." Overnight on Friday
POLICE bosses are set to defy the government and raise their portion of council tax by double the capping limit to help fight serious crime. Lancashire Consta-bulary is also planning £2.5million cuts to help fund £5million invest-ment next year. Police
