Blackburn and District Probus Club meet St Silas' Parish Hall, Preston New Road, Blackburn, 10.30am. 'Owd Remedies' by Mr F Barton. Gladiators Children's Club (6-11year olds), Bethesda Chapel, Shakespeare Way, Blackburn, 6.30-7.45pm. 'Catacomb Rescue.
ONE of the biggest criticisms directed at the police service by members of the public is the fact that they rarely see a bobby on the beat. Police officers, they say, are remote figures, seen only riding around in cars. There are few opportunities to
GOALS from new boys Mark Heys and midfielders Chris Brookes and Jamie Ramplin gave Ramsbottom United another encouraging pre-season victory with a 3-2 win at Nelson. Manager Ken Bridge used 17-18 players during the course of the game as he counts down
SWINTON centre Phil Coussons has joined Northern Ford Premiership rivals Widnes. Coussons was lured by a significant increase in wages and is thought to be the first of a number of players set to leave the Lions in the close season. Meanwhile, scrum half
IS there a family mystery somewhere in the past that you'd like to solve? A new family history series on BBC-2 would like to hear from people eager to get to the bottom of a family secret or mystery. Did one of your ancestors play a role in an interesting
DEFIANT shopkeepers have vowed to re-establish their businesses after the £1 million Boulevard blaze. And town centre management bosses have pleged speedy help in relocating businesses devasted by the Leigh town centre inferno. Already TCM chairman Cllr
FED-UP gardeners are patrolling their allotments with pitch forks and mobile phones in a bid to thwart vandals behind a series of attacks. Blackburn with Darwen Council and police have also stepped in to offer help with security after a spate of incidents
CRAIG Hignett has been ruled out of Saturday's clash with his old club Crewe Alexandra. The £2.25m signing from Barnsley is making slow progress in recovering from an Achilles problem. And the situation is now starting to cause manager Graeme Souness
Down by the RIVERSIDE with Phil Lloyd A WARM August afternoon. An expectant buzz around Ewood. A visiting team ready for a sound beating. Renewing acquaintances not seen since May. Singing and bunting and chanting and smiling. Well that was last season
PRINCESS Nicola is playing royalty for the next year but she's more used to tackling a different kind of challenge. For the 12-year-old who was crowned market Princess at Admiral's Market Place, Nelson, is also a keen rugby player. Nicola Simpson, a member
ANGRY parents accused Hyndburn Council of putting houses before school places after plans to build 350 homes in Clayton-le-Moors were approved. Parents complained they wanted a school on the site instead because they were having to send their youngsters
A MULTI-million-pound scheme to transform a former stately home into a golf club house and 18-hole golf course will be discussed by Ribble Valley Council tonight. The Woodfold estate, in Mellor, is the subject of a proposed development which includes
CLARETS goalkeeper Paul Crichton is hoping that the result at Bolton could be a good omen for things to come. Twelve months ago on the opening day Burnley came from behind to draw 1-1 at Wycombe and never looked back on their way to promotion. "It's always
A GROUP of Asian males caused £300 worth of damage to a lone woman's car after they prevented her from leaving a Bury car park. The gang, who are all described as young men, surrounded the 22-year-old's car in the Asda car park at Spring Street at 8.20pm
NEIGHBOURS were evacuated after a live hand grenade was discovered at the home of a pensioner who had recently died. The bomb disposal unit was alerted on Friday afternoon (Aug 11) after relatives of the dead pensioner, who lived in Rochdale Old Road,
BURY police are hunting two "flashers" including one who confronted a seven-year-old girl in a subway. Both incidents occurred on Friday afternoon (Aug 11). The first indecent exposure was at 2pm in the subway close to Bury Police Station's headquarters
THE driver and two passengers of a car involved in a road traffic accident are to be interviewed by police. A full investigation has been launched as a result of an accident shortly before midnight on Friday (Aug 11) in Bolton Road, Radcliffe, close to
NORTH Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust has set up five super squads to tackle "grot spots". The action comes hard on the heels of Health Minister Lord Hunt's pledge of £31 million to clean up the country's hospitals. Now, North Manchester's squads are
THE cream of the borough's talent goes on show tomorrow night (Wednesday Aug 16) in the first heat of Power Sound 2000. A top prize of £250 and maybe wider fame awaits the winners of the competition which is being held at Radcliffe Civic Suite. Organisers
ANDY Payton is back up and running with a comeback in his sights within the next week. The Clarets striker missed Burnley's 1-1 draw at Bolton on Saturday with a fractured little toe. But Payton is on the mend and, if he doesn't return for the visit of
SHAKERS manager Andy Preece was delighted with Saturday's opening day victory at Cambridge but reckons his side have plenty more to show. Preece's side triumphed 1-0 at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday to gain revenge for two miserable defeats against Roy
A CONFUSED alcoholic suffered severe head injuries and a cut face after allegedly being attacked with a vacuum cleaner by his drunken nephew during a drinking session, a jury was told. Burnley Crown Court heard how Michael Joseph Jones, known as Joey,
KIND-HEARTED cyclists have set off on a bike ride across Britain in a bid to raise funds to educate children about the dangers of drug abuse. The riders started the sponsored cycle on Sunday and are due to complete the gruelling route on August 27, covering
KIND-HEARTED cyclists have set off on a bike ride across Britain in a bid to raise funds to educate children about the dangers of drug abuse. The riders started the sponsored cycle on Sunday and are due to complete the gruelling route on August 27, covering
FED-UP gardeners are patrolling their allotments with pitch forks and mobile phones in a bid to thwart vandals behind a series of attacks. Blackburn with Darwen Council and police have also stepped in to offer help with security after a spate of incidents
AS THE football season kicks off again, can I put forward a word on behalf of the long suffering families of people, regardless of which team they support, who are about to endure approximately another eight months of torture. At the moment our bathroom
I AM delighted that Rovers have decided to offer the Virtual Matchday internet service, but dismayed that the club feels bound to charge for it. It flies in the fact of the whole culture of the internet and offends the sensibilities of loyal and distant
CAPTAIN'S LOG with Cherry Tree skipper David Hayes APOLOGIES if this column is a drab affair this week, but I have been hit by "writer's block" and a deep depression following recent events. On Saturday last week we were easily defeated by Edenfield following
FOR the third year running, a Blackburn summer literacy school is closely linked to our Newspapers in Education project. Some of the pupils who will be making the transition from primary schools to Pleckgate High School are taking part in the two week
LIVES could be put at risk when the borough's accident and emergency service is relocated to Fairfield Hospital, says a report. It claims ambulances will be delayed in reaching the hospital and increased traffic on the main route to Fairfield will lead
WITH the end of the season approaching Walmer's teams were involved in important fixtures this week in the Bolton Tennis League. The mixed A team entertained Holcombe Brook B and badly needed to win. They got off to a good start in the mixed section with
I WOULD like to say well done to everyone who made the Arts in the Park a great weekend for all. I, for one, enjoyed all the bands, especially one called Spiral Minds. They were excellent. Good luck to them. J SMITH (Mr), Queen Street, Great Harwood.
READING Ron Freethy's Nature Watch (LET, August 2), we could imagine his delight at seeing three hedgehogs in Brierfield Woods. While these hedgehogs were clearly attracted by the slugs brought out by the rain, if you see a hedgehog foraging in daytime
I HAVE just read your front page story (LET, August 12) and am disgusted at the response of local traders to the HSBC Bank incident. To put money before people's safety is appalling. I think the police handled the incident admirably. They did not know
BRITAIN'S 19 million over 50s had their hopes for anti-age discrimination legislation dashed when Lawrie Quinn's Ten Minute Rule Bill for an Age Equality Commission (Friday, July 21) failed to make its second reading. This was despite the fact that it
CASTLE Cement's announcement about the application to burn Cemfuel in kiln seven and to restart Cemfuel in kilns five and six, made it a black week for the Ribble Valley. Some facts that may be of interest to the people who will have to live with decisions
A MAN has been charged with the murder of a mother-of-two who was found stabbed to death after a barbecue at the home they shared. Christopher Lee Waddington, 26, of Moor View, Salterforth, was charged last night and was due to appear before Burnley magistrates
LEIGH East are still bang on course to retain the Grainey Trophy but Hunslet Warriors have caused a major upset by reaching the final in their Champions' Challenge debut. East saw off the challenge of Lancashire Cup holders Thatto Heath Crusaders by 26
CHIEF executive John Williams has paid tribute to the fans after getting behind Rovers at the weekend. "They were absolutely magnificent. I don't think I've ever seen more blue and white in Ewood. "And I know Jack Walker would have been thrilled if he'd
BLACKBURN Rovers and Burnley have held the first in a series of pro-active meetings in a bid to ensure the December derby game passes off peacefully. Officials from both clubs met last week to discuss provisional plans with police about how to avoid the
ASHLEY Ward's on-off move to Bradford City could go through in time for the weekend. Bantams chairman Geoffrey Richmond had threatened to pull out of the deal if 'sufficient progress' had not been made before a 5pm deadline last night. But Ward and his
POLICE are continuing a search for a hit-and-run driver who left a three-year-old girl with a broken leg and head injury. Police said they believe Carla Smith, of Hurtley Street, Burnley, ran out into the side of the car -- possibly a taxi -- in Tunstill
ELDERLY residents on a Pendle housing estate got the message to "get active" as young people on a Prince's Trust course entered their final team challenge. The Trust volunteers organised a day of activities for pensioners on the North Valley estate, Colne
A FATHER-of-two groomed a schoolgirl for sexual contact by touching her and talking "dirty" to her, a jury was told. Burnley Crown Court heard that Derek Kearney, 32, made obscene jokes and suggested the 12-year-old commit a sex act on him. Kearney, of
A MAN has been charged with the murder of a mother-of-two who was found stabbed to death after a barbecue at the home they shared. Christopher Lee Waddington, 26, of Moor View, Salterforth, was charged last night and was due to appear before Burnley magistrates
BLACKBURN Rovers were asked to check their FA Cup final ticket allocations following a probe into a racket that could have netted touts £350,000. The plot was revealed after a £25 ticket from Blackburn's official allocation had been sold to a fan for
FIREFIGHTERS are warning that lives are being put at risk after they received a malicious call last night. A crew from Accrington were called out at 8pm to what was given as a skip on fire behind a takeaway in Ormerod Street in the town. But when they
TWO of East Lancashire's fastest growing firms have bucked the gloomy manufacturing trend by celebrating major deals. Uniform firm Simon Jersey and car component manufacturer Piolax -- based next door to each other in Altham -- are expecting a boost to
LANCASHIRE Probation Service has been told to improve its supervision of offenders, nearly a year after a paedophile absconded after he was put on a train and told to make his own way out of Accrington. A government inspection -- which covers the period
Cummings and Goings with Stephen Cumings JUST before kick off the bloke in the next seat turned to me, a huge grin on his face. "This is what it's all about" he beamed. It was impossible to argue. Division One football, a huge and noisy away following
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an armed raid at a Prestwich bookmakers on Friday morning (Aug 11). Two men, both in their late teens, entered Tote Bookmakers in Bury New Road and threatened staff with a knife before making off with an undisclosed
A YOUNG female shop assistant and a customer were threatened by knife wielding thugs during an armed robbery in Unsworth, Bury, on Friday (Aug 11). Two masked men, brandishing large kitchen knives, burst into Eton's Newsagents in Parr Lane at 1.50pm and
NEW laws that will give monster hedges the chop have been welcomed by MP David Chaytor. He says that sending in the chainsaws to tackle outsized species like Leylandii is the sensible and long-awaited solution. The proposed laws will give councils powers
COUNCIL chiefs who had threatened to take a blind woman to court over a disputed unpaid £100 bill for cleaning her flat have backed down. The decision came after Mrs Catherine Carpenter vowed not to pay the cash and to take legal action against the local
ASHLEY Ward's on-off move to Bradford City could go through in time for the weekend. Bantams chairman Geoffrey Richmond had threatened to pull out of the deal if 'sufficient progress' had not been made before a 5pm deadline last night. But Ward and his
WHAT does an Action Man doll, a set of false teeth and half an uncooked chicken have in common? They have all caused blocked drains in Lancashire! The bizarre revelation comes as British Gas announces that it is branching out into drainage repairs in
THE driver of a lorry fully loaded with refuse escaped with what are believed to be minor injuries when the vehicle overturned on a bend in Burnley Road East, Lumb. The road was closed and diversions were put into operation. The high-sided 41-ton articulated
A PROGRAMME of afternoon music hall concerts is planned for the King George's complex in Blackburn. Five monthly shows starting on August 24 will be staged in Blakey's in the run up to Christmas. The first show will be part of Blackburn Mardi Gras Festival
A POLICE helicopter joined a search for a group of youths spotted running off with a television and other goods. The young men were seen in the area behind Burnley Road, Blackburn, near Whitebirk, by local residents who called police at about 3pm yesterday
AS THE forecasting ability of Neil Bramwell is so well known, it is with satisfaction that I note that my team -- Norwich City -- is among the three he forecasts to be relegated. This alone should ensure that 'Hollands Pies' will still be sold in Division
PHIL Lloyd has just confirmed my long-held belief after reading last week's Down by the Riverside. He is now quite obviously a post-Jack Walker Rovers fan. One of the many thousands of post-Jack Walker Rovers fans. One of those that isn't at all interested
PEOPLE across East Lancashire are being urged to join a campaign to lobby the Prime Minister and Home Secretary Jack Straw against parts of new European human rights laws. Religious campaigners say new laws, due to be introduced later this year, compromise
BOLTON loan striker Isaiah Rankin is hoping to make his move to the Reebok a permanent one. Rankin, who made his debut against Burnley on Saturday, said: "It's a big club with beautiful facilities and I wouldn't rule out a move here. But we'll have to
CLITHEROE will put the finishing touches to their pre-season preparations in a friendly with Old Blacks at Shawbridge tonight (kick off 7.30pm). The Blues open up their North West Counties League campaign against Leek CSOB on Saturday.
LANCASHIRE have enjoyed some great days in their domination of one-day cricket in the last decade. Yesterday at Bristol though, was surely one of the worst, as Gloucestershire confirmed their right to Lancashire's crown by reaching their fourth consecutive
