BLACKBURN Rovers fans enjoyed a special half-term treat yesterday when they watched their team being put through their paces at Ewood Park. Manager Roy Hodgson and the team swapped their usual daily training session at the high-tech Brockhall complex
A CLUB steward pocketed more than £1,400 and helped himself to stock, topping up a lager barrel with water. Burnley magistrates heard how Charles McCann, 43, spent the spoils on the horses and "hit the bevy." He always intended paying the money back,
NEWCASTLE winger Keith Gillespie could well be the next transfer target for Blackburn Rovers. If the Dion Dublin deal was to go through, it would make sense for Rovers to bid for a direct right winger who could provide the necessary crosses. Ewood chief
Worthington Cup 3rd round: Crewe Alexandra v Blackburn Rovers - Peter White's big match preview DARIO Gradi had the air of a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders as he saw his team go four goals down to Tranmere on Saturday - by quarter past
BLACKBURN Rovers were today hoping that their bid to sign Coventry's Dion Dublin would not be gazumped by Premiership rivals. Rovers have already made Dublin a "very good offer" after agreeing a £6.75 million fee with Coventry yesterday and Highfield
A BITTER battle over stall holders being "forced" to trade in a town centre market may be over, according to a council boss. Traders at Clitheroe Market were told by council chiefs to set up shop on Thursdays or quit. Ribble Valley Council wanted the
Val Cowan Surfs the Net I HAVE to confess I've never yet bought anything using the net. Shopping online just can't match a trip down the High Street. But e-commerce, as online sales have become known, does seem to be taking off. A new European survey
THE first resignation from Tony Blair's Cabinet came like a bolt from the blue. It was not preceded by the rumblings or informed leaks of resignations from previous Cabinets. This is how Tony Blair said it would be, although he must have prayed that his
HOW on earth can Walt Meadows state that Blackburn with Darwen Council has 'the highest Council Tax?' (Letters, October 20 and 21). There are lots of councils with a higher band equivalent tax such as Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Burnley, Bristol,
BLACKBURN Hawks have a Christmas Cup extra tonight when they take flight for the coast to tackle Kingston. But it's a game that player/coach Bobby Haig could well do without. Haig's squad is down to bare bones after losing several star players at the
AT last it has dawned on me why Philip Congdon is so repetitive with his letters regarding "humps and bumps" in the Hyndburn area. I have never seen his description within your Letters Page as he entitled himself in The Times (Oct 7) "Philip Congdon,
FIERCE winter weather could take emergency services at Burnley General Hospital beyond breaking point, a health chief warned today. A special action plan and £265,000 extra Government cash has left the health trust better placed than ever to meet the
BURNLEY MP Peter Pike today spoke of his sorrow at the way his friend and flatmate of 15 years Ron Davies was forced to quit the Cabinet. He described the former Welsh Secretary's resignation after being robbed at knife-point by a man he picked up on
Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy I HAVE often written about where to watch birds. This piece, however, is more about when to watch birds. October and November, especially after periods of high winds and rain, are the months to watch migrating birds. In
IT was hardly surprising that the European Parliament threw out a vote to slash the ludicrously lavish expenses of MEPs -- that anonymous species who apparently have the arduous task of spending most of their lives travelling between the countries of
CAN there be anyone left in Britain who isn't sick to death of hearing about the most gossiped-over couple in history, Charles and Diana? We heard every sordid detail of Diana's life during her separation and divorce. And we thought there could be nothing
ROYAL Mail sorting offices in Pendle will be merged on a new purpose-built site in Nelson next year if plans get the go-ahead. Bosses want to close the sorting office in Colne Post Office and merge the letters and parcels delivery service with the Nelson
A GARAGE boss whose business was hit by one of the biggest fires in Rossendale in recent years has now been targeted by burglars. Richard Cort is offering a cash reward after burglars stole £20,000 of new computers from his Waterfoot premises. He said
A CAMPAIGN has been launched in a bid to reduce the suffering of helpless animals caught up in this year's bonfire celebrations. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is urging Guy Fawkes revellers to follow a few simple safety steps
CIRCUS animals will have more protection from new laws to be introduced following a report to MPs, says a Blackburn lawyer who represents big top owners. Malcolm Clay, for the Association of Circus Proprietors, was one of seven members of a working group
A HEALTH boss today warned that the Government must give extra cash to prevent East Lancashire hospitals from reaching crisis point. Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust has been allocated £600,000 to help cope with the expected surge of emergencies
THE Burnley board are considering putting their planned share issue to the annual general meeting. An extraordinary general meeting, needed for shareholders to vote on a share issue, is expected to be combined with the AGM. That is usually held over the
A SECOND family today revealed they removed their daughter from a school at the centre of bullying allegations and claimed she was tormented daily for almost three years. Angry mother Patricia Holmes said she refused to send her eldest daughter Lily,
Blackburn Artists' Society meet St Gabriel's Church Hall, Brownhill, 7pm. North Western Strut of the Popular Flying Association meet in The Clubhouse, Barton Airfield, Eccles, 7.30pm. Sequence dance with MCs Frank and Doris Raw, Accrington Town Hall,
THE Harlem Globetrotters beat their basketball rivals the Washington Generals at Blackburn Arena in front of a crowd of more than 3,000. The giants of the basketball world slapsticked and slam-dunked their way to a six-point victory with their legendary
DAREDEVIL stunt driver Joel David saved himself from serious injury with an unplanned show after he hit a pothole in Marsh House Lane, Darwen. The professional stuntman lost a wheel, the brake cable snapped and another wheel collapsed, but Joel steered
IT was a breath of fresh air to read the constructive praise you gave Blackburn with Darwen Council (LET, October 21). You rightly acknowledged the nationally-recognised achievements of the authority's recent performance in managing positive change. What
RIBBLESDALE League oufit Baxenden have snapped up Australian paceman Ronnie Davis as professional for next season. The Back Lane club had signed up David Usher for another year but his contract has been terminated by mutual consent due to a troublesome
CAN one assume that Councillor Danczuk is after the Waffler of the Year award? I am afraid I didn't read the Labour Government's consultation paper on people sleeping rough and I doubt the people sleeping rough will have read it either, although it may
I NOTED the familiar cry from Councillor Richard Toon, chairman of the county highways and transportation committee, that very little money is available to sand and grit the roads this winter. We are informed priorities will be given to trunk roads and
HIGH winds brought a 40ft poplar tree crashing down on to the roof of terraced houses. Residents in Oak Street, Burnley, were woken just before 4am today. One of them said: "There was an almighty bang and the house shook.'' The tree, one of a line of
WHITEACRES home for elderly men has to close to provide a better overall service Burnley County Councillor Terry Burns told residents and staff. He went to the home to spell out why he voted in favour of the closure. Burnley Council will tonight be asked
MOTOR mad Aidan Venn could be on track to win a scholarship to the world's only motor sport university. Aidan has been driving for only two years, but has won a place in the Elf Fastrack finals in Le Mans tomorrow. The 22-year-old of Harpers Lane, Fence
NEWCASTLE winger Keith Gillespie could well be the next transfer target for Blackburn Rovers. If the Dion Dublin deal was to go through, it would make sense for Rovers to bid for a direct right winger who could provide the necessary crosses. Ewood chief
BLACKBURN Rovers were today hoping that their bid to sign Coventry's Dion Dublin would not be gazumped by Premiership rivals. Rovers have already made Dublin a "very good offer" after agreeing a £6.75 million fee with Coventry yesterday and Highfield
A CYCLIST from East Lancashire will have his head well and truly in the clouds when he embarks on a charity bike ride high in the Himalayan foothills of India. David Nuttall, of Dill Hall Lane, Accrington, is set to ride 250 miles from Shimla to Delhi
PLANNING chiefs are expected to say "nay" to proposals for two horse-riding centres in Hyndburn because of fears over road safety. Residents in Church are worried that plans to build a cross-country course, two arenas, a barn and stables on land opposite
I READ with some incredulity that Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson has been handed yet another title -- as Minister for Pop Music. She says she is "absolutely delighted" with her new post and praises the music industry as "a great success story
A SECOND family today revealed they removed their daughter from a school at the centre of bullying allegations and claimed she was tormented daily for almost three years. Angry mother Patricia Holmes said she refused to send her eldest daughter Lily,
