STAFF and students at Accrington and Rossendale College were still in shock today over the tragic death of firefighter Paul Metcalf, who lost his life trying to rescue a teenager who had dived into a lodge to cool off. Paul, 40, of Whalley Road, Shuttleworth
A CHARITY leading the fight against cancer will get £1,000 - plus fringe benefits - after the landlady of a Blackburn pub took part in a sponsored head-shave. Marie Willacy, landlady of the Vauxhall, Redlam, wanted to keep a short fringe, but regulars
A fan's-eye view from Turf Moor, with Stephen Cummings FRIDAY night football? I approve. I particularly approve if we win 2-1, play with a bit of flair and end the evening at the head of Division Two. There is something quite fabulous about being top
A YOUNG mother-of-three died after suffering 80 per cent burns to her body during an accident which left her engulfed in flames, a coroner has decided. Nusarat Iqbal, 24, was said to have been cooking food or drink on the gas stove at the family's flat
A fan'e-eye view from Ewood Park, with Phil Lloyd JUST as well there hasn't been anything to talk about on the pitch this week, as there have been enough off-field talking points to last until well after closing time. Our erstwhile centre-forward and
THE heartbroken father of a 17-year-old girl struck down by meningitis today joined college bosses to warn students to get inoculated against the disease. The alert came after B-TEC student Lucia Ferguson, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, died in Blackburn
LET'S doff our caps to a man of principle - Arsene Wenger who has proved himself to be an honourable manager. His acceptance of a replay after a disputed goal gave his side apparent victory, and his stance in the transfer of the soldier of fortune, Nicolas
A FARMER clipping hedges along a country lane discovered an unexploded bomb yesterday afternoon. Harold Lloyd, of Higher House Farm, Paythorne, found the device on the A682 Gisburn to Long Preston road shortly after 2pm. He was removing vegetation from
A HEAD teacher has issued a stark warning about solvent abuse after one of her pupils was left battling for his life after suffering a heart attack while apparently inhaling lighter fuel. And pupils at Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe, have held prayers
IT was snow joke! Some people thought winter had come early after a lorry shed its load. A flurry of foam beads blocked Railway Road in Darwen after a lorry got stuck under a railway bridge. The lorry was delivering cavity wall insulation. Firefighters
OUR big day is now upon us and tomorrow our two-year-old charger Saffizz will feature live on Channel Four from Doncaster in the 3.10pm race. Saffizz is in great form even though he is lazy while training. He is hopefully keeping it for the racecourse
11I WOULD like to thank all the people concerned when I had a slight accident on Saturday, August 28, on a bus going to town, especially the young girl who went out of her way to let my husband know about my accident and where I was. RENE CAMPBELL, Moorside
IN A climate more suited to cricket than football, the new season got under way at venues all around the borough. Of the four clubs new to the league this season, only one came away empty handed. Park Inn found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline
I HAVE never had much sympathy for the IRA, but their latest antics prove that they are not fit for government. First, they attempt to smuggle guns in a way that is certain to be detected. Then, they murder a taxi driver and practically leave a notice
THE match of the day was the meeting of the two sides who finished first and second in the Colborne Trophies Premier Division last season and Ewood Amateurs came out on top with a 4-0 win. The game was far closer than that, Griffin made plenty of openings
MY comments about looking after my mother (Letters, August 25) have caused many readers to think about the old and their lot. I have had letters from other carers, who, despite having people to look after, found time to write and wish me well. That is
CHRISTMAS will come early for unemployed people in Burnley when local stores offer a bonanza of holiday jobs at a special recruitment drive on Saturday. Burnley Job Centre will be the venue from 9am to 1pm when major stores including Argos, Boots, Curry's
A CLAMPDOWN on car tax dodgers in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale has been hailed a huge success. And police have pledged there will be more clamping to come with a repeat of the recent crackdown planned for the near future. The two-week operation was
A FORMER policeman who attacked his ex-wife of almost 32 years as she held their baby granddaughter has been jailed for three years. Father-of-three Michael Condliffe, 54, threw Janet Bentley against a wardrobe, tried to "strangle" her and reached into
A RETIRED East Lancashire journalist, magistrate, church deacon and sportsman died yesterday aged 87. Bill Palmer, who was born in Accrington, was educated at the town's grammar school and began his newspaper career at the Accrington Observer. "He was
TOILET paper makers Punjab Paper Converters are launching new products including kitchen towel and have opened a 19,000 sq ft extension to premises at Dickens Street, Blackburn, to cope with extra production. Blackburn with Darwen mayor Councillor Salas
BOSSES at a chemical plant have publicly apologised to residents after admitting they were at fault for a major gas leak. Nipa Laboratories have also revealed that a five-year improvement plan is under way at their plant at Nook Lane, Oswaldtwistle. The
A NEW business conference centre is about to open in a listed former Methodist chapel. Building and property development firm B&E Boys has unveiled its latest project, St Mary's Chambers, in the centre of Rawtenstall. The Grade Two listed building's
BOOKS for both leisure and study time are reviewed as part of our NIE project by pupils in last term's Year Eight at Walshaw High School, Burnley. All pupils in Year Nine at the school took part in our Super Story Search literacy project and, as with
THERE'S a hedge between two green-fingered couples - but judges just couldn't separate them in a best-kept garden contest. Ian and Lynn Richmond and Tony and Maureen Cooper share plants and a love of water features so it was not surprising when the judges
BREAKFAST wars have broken out as two cafes and a chip shop in the same street fight for customers. Buxton's Bakery, Friar Rugg's chip shop and takeaway, and Le Cafe coffee shop, all within a bread roll's throw of each other on Bridge Street, Darwen,
A POLICE chief has vowed to help improve the quality of life for residents on a troubled Darwen estate. Divisional Commander Superintendent Eddie Walsh heard complaints from dozens of people at a meeting of the Blackburn with Darwen Police and Community
ROSSENDALE Players are going through a busy period with work continuing on their new theatre in Waterfoot, rehearsals under way for the autumn production and casting taking place for the November show. Work on the building in Burnley Road East is in the
MORE than 500 walkers set out on the 32nd annual Rossendale Round the Hills Walk. Stepping out from Marl Pits sports complex, Rawtenstall, the 541 started an 18-mile route taking in the hills above the Rossendale Valley. Those who managed to walk all
THE possibility of street lights collapsing on passers-by is concerning roads chiefs in East Lancashire. An estimated 25 per cent of lighting columns in the county are beyond their design life, a figure that will rise to 40 per cent by 2006. Fears were
REVITALISED front man Graham Branch is raring to go for Saturday's derby clash at Preston after admitting his first goal since January had lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. Branch has played up front alongside Andy Payton in the Clarets last two
HAVING criticised the Rovers earlier, I am now writing to say how pleased I was with the performance at Norwich. I sincerely hope Brian Kidd and his players can now keep this standard up. I do not like calling managers and players like I did, for I have
STEVE Harkness is clocking up the miles at Brockhall - but isn't ready yet to step up to Ewood Park duty. Harkness is still to make his Rovers debut following a £500,00 move from Benfica a fortnight ago and won't be ready to face Tranmere Rovers on Saturday
Rossendale Organ and Keyboard Club meet Rossendale United Social Club, Dark Lane, Newchurch, Rawtenstall, 8pm. Claire Greig on the Wersi. Blackburn Rambling Association meet Oddfellows Hall, Regent Street, Blackburn, 8pm. Toy and Train Fair, Barrowford
BLACKBURN Under 15s open their Northern Merit League programme with an away match against Blackpool on Saturday, September 11. Town team officials have been busy working with the squad during the past few weeks making final preparations for a competition
CHRIS Oldham of Colne took bronze in the men's grand veteran category of the RAV4 National Mountain Bike Series. The event, organised by the British Cycling Federation and sponsored by Toyota, attracted over 800 mountain bikers from all over the UK. Around
FRIDAY night football? I approve. I particularly approve if we win 2-1, play with a bit of flair and end the evening at the head of Division Two. There is something quite fabulous about being top of the league. I know we've only had six games. I know
A CASTLE could have been built from discarded pizza boxes in Burnley while town centre pedestrianisation had attracted so many crowds that litter bins were overflowing and rubbish was building up, it was claimed. Coun Henry McCormack told Burnley's public
MIKE Atherton is doubtful for tomorrow's Championship game against Kent after defying a foot injury to keep Lancashire's CGU National League title bid on track at Old Trafford last night. It was hop-along Atherton after he was hit on the foot by a yorker
THE Memorial Sunday Football League seemed to be playing the name game as the new season kicked off. Yet another club has changed its name - Division Two side Blackburn Bull's Head will now be known as Knuzden Brook FC. But the first results in Division
RESULTS - Under 12: Oswaldtwistle Juniors 0, Barrowford Celtic 5; Langho Juniors 7, Haslingden Juniors 1; STASH 1, Gt Harwood Rovers 7; Lammack Juniors 3, Whalley Juniors 0; Blue Star 2, Blackburn Boys 1; Waterfoot Juniors 0, Akzo Juniors 11. Under 13
COMING hard on the heels of Tony Blair's declared drive for a "new moral purpose in Britain," the disclosure today that schoolchildren are to be taught the importance of marriage is clearly an attempt to add substance to the oratory. And there is no doubt
THE new season kicks off on Saturday after the league had secured a five-year sponsorship deal with Vending Machine Ingredients of Blackburn. Fixtures for Saturday, September 11 (all matches kick-off 10.15am unless stated) - Under 9 Blue: Blackburn Dynamos
WHAT'S happening to the Royal Infirmary, Blackburn? I have had operations and had to travel to Manchester for treatment after we paid towards the scanner in the infirmary. Now, we are told it's closing. Why? We could try and keep it for cancer and other
I COULD not believe my eyes when, on a recent visit with a friend, I saw the dilapidated state of the Great Barn at Hurstwood. We chatted to a local who told us the good news - there is to be a tea room opening shortly. We can have the facility for a
REGARDING your article (LET, August 13) on Blackburn with Darwen's performance in the Government's new planning performance tables - which covered the year following the council receiving unitary authority status, ending March 31, this year. During this
BURNLEY FC stars of yesteryear will take to the pitch once more to raise money for Burnley Community Team. Fullback Derek Scott, all-rounder Peter Noble and Ian Britton, who scored the winning goal in the crucial game against Leyton Orient in 1987 when
A SELF-employed gardener who was abusive to police was caught drink-driving hours after he was released from the police station. Burnley magistrates heard how Andrew Redfearn, 28, who had a previous conviction for excess alcohol, would now lose his work
EAST LANCASHIRE'S soap sensation Julie Hesmondhalgh received Coronation Street's only accolade when she scooped the title of Best Soap Actress at the TVQuick Awards in London last night. In an evening where the show's arch-rival EastEnders swept the board
STEVE Harkness is clocking up the miles at Brockhall - but isn't ready yet to step up to Ewood Park duty. Harkness is still to make his Rovers debut following a £500,00 move from Benfica a fortnight ago and won't be ready to face Tranmere Rovers on Saturday
A COLLEGE has scooped a multi-million pound deal to become a national training centre for drivers and mechanics who work for one of East Lancashire's major bus operators. Accrington and Rossendale College and Stagecoach bosses were due to shake hands
SALARIES for sales and marketing professionals in the region are among the highest in the country according to a survey out today. The average pay package of members of the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the North West is £27,006 according to the
SHARES in several East Lancashire firms have been rated as worth buying, according to a North West stockbroker. In its monthly report, Henry Cooke Lumsden believes Salterforth-based Silentnight is worth investing in. The firm recently completed the sale
TOUR giant Airtours is this week making its final case to monopoly watchdogs over its proposals to buy rival First Choice. First Choice's directors favoured a merger with Swiss rival Kuoni, but shareholders voted to await the outcome of the European Commission's
AN environmental group arranged a programme of fun events at a site which is the focus of a community project. Great Harwood Prospects Panel organised a young people's activity day at Bank Mill field behind the Lancashire County Council youth and community
A FORMER policeman who attacked his ex-wife of almost 32 years as she held their baby granddaughter has been jailed for three years. Father-of-three Michael Condliffe, 54, threw Janet Bentley against a wardrobe, tried to "strangle" her and reached into
THE heartbroken father of a 17-year-old girl struck down by meningitis today joined college bosses to warn students to get inoculated against the disease. The alert came after B-TEC student Lucia Ferguson, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, died in Blackburn
