John Williams and Friends: African Notes, Guild Hall, Preston, 8pm. Free Public talk on the Introduction to Buddhist Teachings, Losang Dragpa Centre, Dobroyd Castle, Pexwood Road, Todmorden, 7.30pm. 'Taste of Paradise' Coffee Shop, Paradise Lane, Blackburn
Highfield Utd...2 R'dale St Clement...0 HIGHFIELD United have capped another marvellous season by becoming Lancashire Amateur League Champions. The Bury team kicked off needing just a point to clinch things, but they did it in style, winning 2-0. However
IT is predicted the turn-out for the coming elections will be poor. People, such as L Lawes (Letters, May 15) who are obviously interested in the town, say they won't be voting. I would ask them to think again. If we're not happy with our lot, vote for
WITH monumental patience and tenacity, scientists have discovered the complete human genome, enabling the medical world to be in a position to correct Nature's faulty or missing genes in developing embryos. This will give millions of people a better life
EVERY day on my television show I meet people with stories to tell. But this time I would like to tell about a grandmother, having to care for children orphaned by AIDS. She is Miriam Mbwana, from Malawi. Miriam recently nursed her eldest daughter, Mary
BURY residents are proving good sports by helping to make Manchester's staging of the Commonwealth Games a success. Several people from across the borough have signed up as volunteers, including Brian Cooke from Bury, to help next year's sporting spectacular
LABOUR bosses have finalised their team of top councillors who will look after local services this coming year. They have decided who will hold the post of spokesman for the various specialised areas of the council's work. If follows the announcement
A WEALTHY businessman hacked to death with an axe in a bedroom at his luxury home knew his killer, police said today. The body of former Rossendale man Daniel O'Brien, 41, was discovered in a bedroom of his £275,000 house in Midgley, Wakefield, last Wednesday
THE devastation of foot and mouth has become too much for farmer John Barnes. The man who has spent a lifetime building up his business broke down yesterday as he stood outside his home and watched neighbour Colin Sutcliffe's sheep and cattle stock being
GOVERNMENT plans for compulsory screening of Balkans veterans have been welcomed by Whitefield campaigner Gail Norris. Mrs Norris's son Corporal Alan Joy died last year after developing leukaemia following a stint in Bosnia. She criticised the Ministry
FIREBUGS are thought to have been responsible for starting a massive blaze which destroyed 200 tons of baled paper. At its height, more than 50 firefighters tackled the fierce outbreak as it ripped through an outside yard at Sca Recycling at the Pilsworth
LEIGH Centurions are confident of adding the second part of their treble chance tonight. With the NFP Minor Premiership safely tucked away, Leigh are firm favourites to bring a second piece of silverware back to Hilton Park in four days when they meet
THIS match was just a bridge too far for North End as a season which has been absolutely wonderful for everyone connected with Preston fell apart at the final hurdle. Forget that final scoreline for in no way does it reflect the closeness of the match
BURNLEY aims to harness the white heat of new technology with £3.5million schemes to bring high quality, well-paid jobs to the area. The town hopes to win £1.5million Euro and North West Development agency cash to build a 25,000 sq ft Technology Centre
A WOODEN hut which had been used by scout groups for more than 40 years burned to the ground yesterday. Fire crews were called to the hut between Scotland Road, in Nelson, and the M65, at 11.05am after a call from a neighbour whose house backs onto the
A PENDLE garden created by people with mental health problems will be open to the public next weekend in the first ever National Community Gardens Open Day. Members of the public are being invited to visit the garden, in Albert Road, in Colne, by the
FORMER Tory minister and Pendle MP John Lee today defected to the Liberal Democrats in a major boost to leader Charles Kennedy. The veteran Conservative -- who has also chaired the Christie Hospital in Manchester, the North West's major cancer treatment
AN East Lancashire grandmother could soon be a regular face on TV screens in the popular Big Brother show. Channel 4 decided that the programme, which began on Saturday, would have a new twist this year by giving the public the opportunity to choose a
TWO of the big brewers, Bass and Tetley, disappointed drinkers throughout East Lancashire as they announced an average increase of 6p per pint, just weeks after the budget and VAT increases.
TOM the cat has been having the time of his nine lives since moving into an accountancy firm and is now set to brush shoulders with the stars too. The friendly feline has taken charge of Mayes Business Partnership, in Willow Street, Accrington, since
Help group gets louder voice as its volunteers double in number A LEIGH-BASED help group has doubled its number of volunteers to help with an escalating caseload. Nine new advocates are set to go out into the community to assist the increasing number
CREATIVE talents are being called upon to ensure a village community stays strong. An art exhibition is planned at Mellor Village Hall on Sunday, between 2pm and 5pm. The event is in aid of the hall's building fund, which has an appeal target of £250,000
FOOTBALL frenzy descended on Blackpool this week as Blackpool FC won their play-off in Cardiff and finally moved up to division two -- spelling a bright new future for both town and club. Pubs with televised coverage of the match across Blackpool, Wyre
A LOOK at the scorecards. EDENFIELD 160 CHERRY TREE 185-9 Edenfield 0 pts Cherry Tree 7 pts CHERRY TREE M Veevers b Lewis ... 43 A Grogan c Lewis b Storey ... 0 N Robbins b Williams ... 40 Ashraf lbw Williams ... 12 G Bolton run out ... 2 L Kennedy not
SAINSBURY'S bosses have refused to be swayed by the views of thousands of people, declaring: "The Prestwich store will close on June 9." The head of the company's property affairs, Ms Jane Blower, also said it was "unlikely" that the Longfield Centre
THE excuse for a motorist being driven to ring the police on his mobile phone from inside their divisional HQ in Blackburn in order to report the theft of his car radio because no-one answered his ringing of the reception-desk bell was that an officer
IT is a pity that the no-nonsense opinions of ex-Derby and Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough do not extend to local government as well as to football -- given the admirable candour of his view of David Beckham's 'Mohican' hair-do. Accusing the England
EWOOD goal-ace Matt Jansen today admitted he's relishing the chance to impress England boss Sven Goran Eriksson when Rovers return to the big time next season. The 23-year-old striker was in white-hot form last term, scoring 24 times as Rovers roared
BLACKBURN newsagent Solly Khonat has been installed as the first-ever Muslim president of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents in the North West. Solly, who owns a store in Johnston Street, was congratulated on his appointment by his daughter
EMPLOYEE shareholders at Holland's Pies were celebrating today after their parent company Northern Foods announced increased pre-tax profits of £104.1 million. On the strength of the buoyant figures, chairman Christopher Haskins unveiled a total dividend
WOMEN have taken over the workplace in Blackburn, according to new research published by the GMB union. For the first time, the fairer sex is outnumbering the men on the shopfloor of the town's factories, offices and retail centres. The research shows
A GROUP of walkers are getting back on track despite the recent confirmed cases of foot and mouth. People are being invited to join members of the First Sunday Rambling Club on the first in a series of walks after their previously organised events were
RETIRED teacher Councillor Dorothy Jordan gave her adopted home town top marks for effort when she spoke to accept the office of Mayor of Todmorden. Coun Jordan, who retired three years ago from her job of teaching maths at Todmorden High School, said
SUMMER activities for parents with young children will start on Friday with a fun day at Bacup Leisure Hall. From noon to 2pm Diddy Mike Kerr will entertain and there will be a bouncy castle. Children aged under four will be able to choose from four play
AT the age of 15 when most girls are thinking about pop stars and make-up -- Bethan Adamson is thinking about her next civic engagement as Mayoress. She is juggling GCSEs with her role alongside her mum Christine who has been a Whitworth councillor for
DETECTIVES say a man arrested in connection with a suspicious explosion at a Blackburn take-away is still not well enough to be questioned. The blast, involving gas, ripped through two shops and badly damaged a third in King Street, Bank Top early on
A SAMBA band is hoping to drum up support for National Volunteers' Week, which starts on Friday. Blackburn with Darwen Volunteer Bureau will be manning the volunteer bus under Blackburn town centre clock outside BHS between 9am and 4pm on Friday while
POLICE have abandoned plans to hire a private security firm to guard their own headquarters -- because they couldn't find anyone good enough to do the job. In a move branded 'astonishing' by East Lancashire parliamentary candidate Gordon Prentice, the
Stock Cars: Reigning World F1 champion John Lund, locks horns with his two biggest rivals in the CPL Industries Homefire British Drivers Championship at Coventry on Saturday night. The Rimington farmer starts as joint favourite with Silsden's Frankie
A ROUND-UP of the local cricket leagues. RIBBLESDALE WDRS 150 BARNOLDSWICK 171-7 Ribblesdale 0 pts Barnoldswick 7 pts BARNOLDSWICK I Scothern c Nawaz b Monk ... 17 M Scothern c Spencer b Nawaz ... 29 R Arshad c Gardner b Whalley ... 10 P Beech not out
NEIL Hodgson could walk down a road in his home town of Burnley on a busy Saturday afternoon and not many people would give him a second glance. But if the 27-year-old had even attempted to take a stroll round Donington Park on Sunday, he would have been
AT the post match press conference Preston boss David Moyes insisted he was not downhearted. He said: "We are obviously disappointed not to win but we have a lot to be happy about this season." Moyes agreed that "the turning point was the save by their
SOME time ago I mentioned the excellent work done by the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. The trust sent me a copy of a delightful book which you will find more than useful. The Wildlife Trust's Nature Reserves Guide, published
THIS week's outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in East Lancashire caught far too many people on the hop -- including me. The fact that none of us should ever take a chance with regard to the welfare of the countryside and its livestock sent me scurrying
REGARDING your report (LET, May 29) that a European firm is to supply Blackburn with Darwen Council with beer, doesn't the council know that the other major tower in Blackburn town centre belongs to a brewery? A world famous local brewery -- one that
WHILE one wonders why council officers insist that a Muslim girls school provides places for about 42 bikes (LET, May 26), we can only assume that there may be a very good reason for such a demand. On the other hand, and not for the first time, it is
A CYCLIST is recovering in hospital today four days after after he was involved in a road accident. Carl Wood, aged 11, is in Salford's Hope Hospital with serious head injuries after the accident involving a Vauxhall Astra estate yards from his home in
BENEFITS Agency staff in Bury have been rewarded for their communication skills. They and their colleagues in Middleton, Rochdale, Oldham and Failsworth have taken delivery of a national charter for their excellent service to deaf and hard of hearing
LEIGH RMI will allow free admission to children accompanied by adults in an attempt top attract more fans to their matches. The Conference League team finished in a highly creditable fifth spot last season but were disappointed at woeful crowds of around
EWOOD goal-ace Matt Jansen today admitted he's relishing the chance to impress England boss Sven Goran Eriksson when Rovers return to the big time next season. The 23-year-old striker was in white-hot form last term, scoring 24 times as Rovers roared
THE BOYS on the pitch may not have done themselves justice on the day but there was no doubt about the performance of the fans -- they were simply fantastic. More than 30,000 Preston fans made the journey to the Millennium Stadium by train, coach or car
SHOPPERS at Burnley Asda could be forgiven for thinking they had triple double-vision. Two sets of triplets, who as newly-born babies helped to open the Princess Way store seven years ago, went back to help celebrate the shop's seventh birthday. Daniel
RESIDENTS in the Chatburn Park Drive area of Brierfield are taking part in a scheme to recycle old plastic drink and toiletry bottles. A partnership of the council and Groundwork East Lancashire decided to pilot a kerb collection scheme in this area and
UNCLE Sam's American Circus has landed in Pendle after entertaining the crowds with two hours of non-stop action and laughter in Burnley. Featuring classic acts performances like the human cannonball, high-wire trapeze, jugglers, and, of course, clowns
A FAMILY centre in Nelson will celebrate its first anniversary with a party on Saturday afternoon. The St Philip's Family Centre caters for school children before and after school hours and employs a fully-trained teacher who runs the after school Discoverers
SHOPKEEPERS in Earby have called for a police presence near their shops after windows were smashed in a night of vandalism. Several thousands of pounds of damage was caused to front windows at shops in Victoria Road, including Robinson's of Earby butchers
SOLDIERS from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment returning from peacekeeping duties in Bosnia exercised their freedom by marching through Blackburn. The regiment's freedom, awarded in 1970, entitles it to march through the borough.
AN Accrington charity has been put in focus by a local business. Accrington and District Blind Society has been presented with a digital camera by leading East Lancashire firm P3 Computers. "It is a real help for us," said the society's Marion Clark.
AN ACCRINGTON man has been hailed a hero after he rescued his unconscious neighbour from his smoke filled house after a chip pan caught fire last night. The man, who has not be named, was found overcome by smoke fumes and slumped in his living room at
A 26-YEAR-old Accrington man, disturbed as he attempted to hook a trailer loaded with timber to the back of his Transit van, was later chased by police. Blackburn magistrates heard that John Johnstone reached speeds of 60mph as they pursued him along
MILLIONS of animal lovers joined TV star Rolf Harris to share in a family's sorrow and joy after pet terrier Charlie underwent amputation. Tyldesley gran Rose Wallbank and her Staffordshire Bull Terrier appeared on the popular TV show Animal Hospital
HYNDBURN'S new political structure is set to come into force later on this year. The council's bosses are currently creating a new constitution which will spell the end of the traditional committee structure. Instead, an all-powerful cabinet will make
THE prayers of a small congregation at a historic country church are beginning to be answered. United Utilities says it is keeping faith with the future by donating £1,000 to help preserve the remote Dalehead Church in the Forest of Bowland, near Clitheroe
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent could have been priced out of a possible move for gangly QPR striker Peter Crouch. Clarets chief Ternent has been linked with a move for the 6ft 7in forward since the season finished earlier this month. But the cash-strapped
A LOOK at the local league and scorecards Division Two: Blackpool 133-6 (2) Fleetwood 202-7 (7); Darwen 125-7 (1) Chorley 210-3 (8); Kendal 106-9 (6) Netherfield 106-5 (3); Leyland 127-8 (15) Leyland Motors 59 (2); Morecambe v Lancaster no play. Batting
LEAGUE records fell at Sandy Lane on Saturday as Darwen's scorching form saw them defeat Leyland Motors by a record 192 runs. Motors won the toss and asked Darwen to bat. Despite an early wicket the Darwen innings was soon on fire as Gary Jackson and
TIM Roberts was set for a dream County Championship debut for Lancashire today against his home county Northamptonshire. The 23-year-old, from Kettering, came through the Northants junior ranks before moving Durham University to study geology. There he
CLITHEROE cricket club are taking no action in light of the foot and mouth outbreak in the area. Seven cases have been confirmed in the town in the last week but the club believes there is no need to suspend their fixtures, as Settle did after outbreaks
A SUMMERSEAT family have been left homeless after their bungalow was destroyed in one of two arson attacks in the village. Their home in Cliff Avenue was gutted in a fierce blaze while another fire nearby wrecked a row of six garages and four vehicles
A MOTHER claims education bosses are dragging their feet after failing to find her son a suitable school for four months. Fourteen-year-old Christopher Graham, of Alfred Street, Bury, has microcephaly, a clinical condition which means that his learning
TWO businessmen claim they will lose thousands of pounds because they have been ordered off their premises in Radcliffe by Bury Council. Some traders in the "Stonepits" area of Quarry Street and Bridgefield Street fear their livelihoods are under threat
LABOUR and Conservative rolled out the biggest guns in their General Election armoury in their individual battles to capture the Bury North seat. Tory leader William Hague breezed into the town on Friday (May 25) and was highly optimistic his party would
FROM a business point of view, the initiative by Burnley and Padiham community housing to fill empty former council houses -- of which the borough has hundreds -- by touting them to Londoners is understandable. After all, the glut of more than 400 unoccupied
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent could have been priced out of a possible move for gangly QPR striker Peter Crouch. Clarets chief Ternent has been linked with a move for the 6ft 7in forward since the season finished earlier this month. But the cash-strapped
WHALLEY author Anthony Capstick has produced a practical guide to all the latest developments in business and comminications. "How to Change Your Life with Technology" covers all aspects of telecommunications from ADSL to zip drives. Anthony left the
NELSON-BASED NEL Construction is working at full throttle to complete a showroom extension in time for the launch of the new X Type Jaguar. Building work is nearing completion at the Perry Motor Sales dealership in Hudderfield where the new 'baby Jag'
EAST LANCASHIRE companies are at the heart of a new drive to create an international centre of excellence for the aerospace industry. The Nelson-based North West Aerospace Alliance is in talks with the regional development agency over plans to establish
RIBBLE Valley property tycoon Gerald Hitman, who created an exclusive housing development at the former Brockhall Hospital, has been named as one of the country's top businessmen. His company, Brockhall Village Developments, is ranked as Lancashire's
A BID by a mystery consortium to buy Bury Football Club has been accepted. If the offer -- believed to be in the region of £1million -- is given approval by the High Court, then the new owners will be in charge for the start of the new season. Because
VOLUNTEERS braved the summer showers in a bid to raise money for charity. Staff at the Darwen branch of Help the Aged, in School Street, celebrated their sixth birthday with a fundraising stall at the town's Petticoat Lane market. The event was run in
THIS year's Darwen Music Live festival has been dubbed the biggest and best yet. In its second year, the event pulled in thousands of people from across the country who decided to brave the bad weather to hear good music. Organised by Blackburn with Darwen
ORGANISERS of a series of woodland walks today hailed the events a huge success. More than 25 people turned out for the first early morning walk in Sunnyhurst Wood, one of a number of events to help celebrate Green Week 2001. Entitled an Introduction
WAUGH's Well fell race which would have been held on June 5 has been cancelled because of the foot and mouth crisis. Organisers say there is not time in the fell racing calendar to reschedule the four-mile fell race.
STAFF at a nursery today hit out at thieves who stole children's plants from window boxes just 24 hours after they had been potted. Youngsters at the Rainbow Nursery, in Barley Bank Street, Darwen, returned after the bank holiday weekend to find their
TWELVE artists have abandoned their studios over the past 12 months to work in the community as part of the Year of the Artist. During that time the indoor market at Rawtenstall became an instant gallery with every available space sporting artwork of
A WEALTHY businessman hacked to death with an axe in a bedroom at his luxury home knew his killer, police said today. The body of former Rossendale man Daniel O'Brien, 41, was discovered in a bedroom of his £275,000 house in Midgley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
A DERELICT single-storey warehouse at the junction of Spinning Way and King Street in Leigh is to be transformed into a bar and nightclub under plans agreed by councillors. Wigan development control committee ignored planning department advice and approved
NEEDY children are toasting an ice stadium. For Blackburn Arena's 10th anniversary celebration has raised £4,000 for the NSPCC. A crowd of more than 1,000 turned up at the Arena last month to watch 50 star players past and present take part in a festival
ANOTHER special steam train will run from Lancashire to the scenic Settle-Carlisle line, due to overwhelming demand for seats on the previous train. Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line vice-president Pete Shaw said: "All the seats on our first May steam
30 TEACHERS have lost their jobs after a shake-up in the education system led to county council bosses scrapping their pool of special educational-needs teachers. Lancashire County Council has changed its system in favour of giving each school control
A TREASURED heirloom from one of Blackburn's most famous families is expected to fetch up to £180,000, when it goes under the auction hammer. The imposing Victorian silver-gilt candelabra and candelabrum was presented to William Henry Hornby in 1853 -
ARMED police surrounded a house in Blackburn and arrested four men after a gunpoint robbery 80 miles away. The men came out of the house in Foxstones Crescent, on the Green Lane estate after armed officers traced a car allegedly involved in the robbery
BLIND navigator Andrew Komosa made motorsport history when he contested the Proflex Stages. The Blackburn-born solicitor used to navigate regularly on road rallies during the 1980's before he suffered the total loss of his eyesight due to diabetes. After
TOP class powerboating comes to Lancashire for the first time when Blackpool plays host to the UKOBA National Grand Prix this summer. Thousands of spectators are expected to line the promenade during the two-day event, which takes place on July 21 and
JUST 37 seconds separated Nigel Worswick from a dream debut on the Proflex Stages. At the end of 50 miles of flat-out rallying at the Leyland test track, the Blackburn engineer was forced to settle for second best with his new Ford Escort World Rally
BLACKPOOL play-off hero Brett Ormerod today thanked Accrington Stanley for saving him from football's scrap heap as he reflected on a season of personal triumph. The 24-year-old sharpshooter almost single-handedly fired the Seasiders back into Division
THIS match was just a bridge too far for North End as a season which has been absolutely wonderful for everyone connected with Preston fell apart at the final hurdle. Forget that final scoreline for in no way does it reflect the closeness of the match
THE BOYS on the pitch may not have done themselves justice on the day but there was no doubt about the performance of the fans -- they were simply fantastic. More than 30,000 Preston fans made the journey to the Millennium Stadium by train, coach or car
COUNTRYSIDE access restrictions imposed throughout Bury because of the foot and mouth outbreak are being lifted. But ramblers and walkers throughout the area will have to wait before tapes and notices at all access points to many previous "no go" areas
