Archive

  • EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Tuesday, August 28

    Young People's Confidential Service, Brook Advisory Centre, 64 Bank Parade, Burnley, 6.30pm-9pm. Blackburn Home Organists' Club, St Stephens Conservative Club, Robinson Street, Little Harwood, 8pm. AGM. 'Lightnin' Boys and the Boys' screening, Stoops

  • All deserve a chance of life

    THE heartache and pain that must be felt by 37-year-old mother of two Michelle Hilton knowing that she has life threatening breast cancer can only be guessed at by most of us. The stress her situation also imposes on the rest of her family is almost unimaginable

  • Defensive Shakers made to pay

    LIKE day to turns to night, the Aussies win the Ashes and Anne Robinson always winks at the end of her TV shows, there was an air of inevitability about Huddersfield winning this match. For if any team attempts to defend on the edge of their own penalty

  • Pools help cash effort

    EAST Lancashire swimming pools have helped break a world record, after contributing to a £2.4 million fundraiser. For the BT Swimathon, 37,710 people throughout Britain dived into 484 pools last March -- making it Europe's largest-ever swimming event.

  • Addict wanted to be locked away

    HEROIN addict Warren Melling asked magistrates to lock him up so that he would have the chance to make a fresh start. Blackburn magistrates were told that Melling saw it as the only way he could clear himself of the drug that was dragging him down. Melling

  • Families flee as four homes blaze

    FAMILIES had to be evacuated when fire tore through four houses and threatened to spread through the whole street. Kevin Gibson, station officer at Blackburn Fire Station, said the actions of his crews prevented a disaster. Six crews from East Lancashire

  • Hospital security second to none

    IN response to your recent article on Calderstones Hospital, Whalley (LET, August 15), I have cause to visit every week, West Drive, which is the high security wing of the establishment and my personal experience of the security in place there is that

  • Invite to join in the music

    GREAT Harwood Male Voice Choir, with more than 40 years' singing history, invites interested men to join and be part of something special. You will be made very welcome. We especially need tenors, baritones, basses, but all singing abilities are welcome

  • Thug assault on woman, 95

    A BRAVE 95-year-old today spoke of the horrific moment when a thug threw her to the floor and assaulted her during a vicious robbery at her home. And the pensioner, who was too scared to be identified, revealed that throughout her ordeal she prayed the

  • Cancer-beating drug may be mum's last hope

    A MUM of two with months to live today pleaded with health bosses to pay for a cancer-beating drug that could save her life. Michelle Hilton, 37, of Beechwood Drive, Blackburn, has been told by doctors at the Christie Hospital, Manchester,that they have

  • Irish star is smiling

    Premier League: Blackburn Rovers 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - Andy Neild's match report ARGENTINIAN bad-boy Mauricio Taricco may have found himself at the centre of a storm after a bitter war of words with Rovers boss Graeme Souness. But it was Ewood whirlwind

  • Youth caged for factory break-in

    A TEENAGER who broke into a coffin makers the day after being spotted on the roof and claiming he was retrieving a football, has been sent to custody for 12 months. Burnley Crown Court heard how James Brown, 18, who also struck at a house, had previously

  • Jail for father who ignored warning

    A FATHER of three who offended while on a suspended jail term and then did not do the community service he was given as punishment, is behind bars. Burnley Crown Court heard how Lee Ormonde, 28, had been warned by Judge Raymond Bennett what awaited him

  • Charities feel the benefit

    TWO charities will benefit from a weekend-long event at the Four Alls Inn, in Higham. Attractions at the second annual Higham Marquee raised £1,400, which will be split equally between the Pendleside Hospice and Macmillan Nurses. The community event finished

  • £150m needed to repair homes

    INVESTMENT of over £150 million is needed to bring Pendle's private housing stock up to standard. Pendle Council will on Thursday hold a "state of the borough' debate and be asked to invite the housing minister to the area to see at first hand the housing

  • Project's healthy start

    A PROJECT in Pendle which promotes the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle and tackling the problem of social exclusion has proved to be a big hit since it was launched in April. The Healthy Communities project is run by the Pendle Leisure Trust and

  • Woman, 95, beaten up in £20 robbery

    A 95-YEAR-OLD woman is recovering today after being threatened and assaulted in her own home for the sake of £20. Police said the pensioner was in her house in Ruskin Place, Nelson, at 4.40pm on Saturday when she was subjected to 'an horrendous ordeal

  • Healthy lifestyle project proves big hit

    A PROJECT in Pendle which promotes the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle and tackling the problem of social exclusion has proved to be a big hit since it was launched in April. The Healthy Communities project is run by the Pendle Leisure Trust and

  • Thug assault on woman, 95

    A BRAVE 95-year-old today spoke of the horrific moment when a thug threw her to the floor and assaulted her during a vicious robbery at her home. And the pensioner, who was too scared to be identified, revealed that throughout her ordeal she prayed the

  • Sara sets sights on designing

    BARROWFORD graduate Sara Concah is hoping the experience she has gained at university will stand in her in good stead for a career in design. Sara, 24, of Nora Street, recently achieved an upper second class honours degree in Surface Pattern Design from

  • Borderline players a hit on the fringe

    PENDLE actors made their mark on the theatre scene in Scotland when they performed for two weeks at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Members of the Pendle Borderline Theatre Company spent the mornings publicising themselves and the afternoons acting. They

  • Weather smiles on another superb treat for music fans

    BLUE skies watched over a Bank Holiday R and B bonanza in East Lancashire. Colne's Great British Rhythm And Blues Festival has carved its reputation throughout Britain -- but don't be fooled by the name. The festival, now in its 12th year, is the most

  • Ten years ago

    PENSIONER Gladys Small was reunited with her sister Mary Windle after more than 70 years apart. Gladys, 75, had been adopted as a child and brought up in Padiham, while Mary, 82, lived in Bristol.

  • Five years ago

    A 27 YEAR-OLD mother and her baby daughter were kidnapped from Blackburn's Asda store and taken on a journey by a man who threatened to infect them with AIDS before abandoning the car on Sandwich Street.

  • 'Give us a chance to stop mast plan'

    AN angry father-of-four has accused Hyndburn planning chiefs of not giving people the chance to respond to plans to upgrade a mobile phone mast. Ian Moorcroft, 32, of Queens Road West, who lives opposite St Christopher's High School, Accrington, where

  • E-mail watch on the law breakers

    CRIME fighters are using the internet to tackle crooks in the Ribble Valley. Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators throughout the borough are using e-mail to share information with the police in a bid to cut offending. Ribble Valley Council paid for around

  • MP defends Tory action over BNP

    RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has defended the Tory party over its handling of the revelation that a man with links to the BNP held a senior position in Iain Duncan Smith's leadership campaign. Mr Evans, vice-chairman of the party and president of the

  • More Moore's please!

    Division One: Millwall 0 Burnley 2 FOR Clarets fans at the moment it is a case of the Moore the merrier. Striker Ian Moore and substitute midfielder Alan Moore fired in the goals that served up success at the New Den - but they did so much more (sorry

  • Facing up to life without Athers

    LANCASHIRE must start planning for life after Mike Atherton after he virtually confirmed his retirement at the Oval yesterday. Athers has still refused to budge on his plan to announce his decision at the end of the season. But the way he was applauded

  • It's lucky 13 for Clarets

    BURNLEY go into tonight's derby showdown with Manchester City looking to build on their best League start for 13 years. Three straight wins have lifted the Clarets to second in the table, trailing the only other side with a 100 per cent record Bradford

  • Rovers continue Traore bid

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness will launch another bid for Liverpool defender Djimi Traore this week. Rovers chief Souness wants to bring in a new defender ahead of his side's game at Sunderland on Saturday week with Craig Short due to miss the trip through

  • Player watch a problem - Preece

    SHAKERS boss Andy Preece launched a scathing attack on his players after defeat at Huddersfield. He said the majority were naive and "lacking something up top". "Sometimes we are so naive it's like you have to write down something for someone to do and

  • Who's a pretty boy, then?

    MORE than 50 exotic birds were yesterday taken by their proud owners to Rosemount Working Mens Club, Huttock End, Stacksteads, for Burnley Caged Birds Society's latest show. The event should have been held at Trawden Agricultural Show but was relocated

  • Fun day boost for hospice

    REGULARS at The Flowers Inn, in Bacup, dug deep in their pockets during a family fun day and raised around £700 for Rossendale Hospice. Landlord Gerry Blakely and regulars John Crook and Ron Williams even went to the extent of shaving their hair off to

  • Fingertip test trapped conman

    A ROSSENDALE man who dishonestly tried to obtain money from a pawnbroker by deception, using a cheque not belonging to him, left a clue to his identity -- his thumbprint, a court was told. Michael John Brooks, 49, of Wellington Terrace, Burnley Road East

  • Council set to refuse conservatory

    COUNCILLORS have been recommended to refuse plans for a conservatory in Haslingden on the grounds it would go against local plans. The proposals for a 3.5-metre wide and 2.6-metre high conservatory at number 7 East Bank Avenue will be considered by members

  • Oh baby - what a perfect moment!

    A PREGNANT mother has took her first step on the road to superstardom by winning more than £110,000 on former Spice Girl Mel B's hit TV show, 'This is My Moment.' Helen Booth, 26, of Acre Avenue, Stacksteads stunned the studio and television audiences

  • Cheggers signs on to boost Signival

    THOUSANDS of people flocked to Witton Park, Blackburn, for the first carnival hosted by The National Federation of Deaf People, which it is hoped will soon gain the status of other major events. Visitors to the Signival were entertained by plays and performances

  • Bells will ring to mark town's birthday

    BLACKBURN town hall will be thrown open to the public tomorrow,on Tuesday as part of the borough's 150th birthday celebrations. And hot on the heels of the Bank Holiday weekend Summer Fiesta, Tuesdaytomorrow will also be a fun-day in the town centre,

  • College blackmailed us, says councillor

    BLACKBURN College has been given conditional permission to build a new construction department -- after the college principal warned that refusal would threaten a £9million investment package.. Planning permission was granted on condition the college

  • PADIHAM...3 OLDHAM TOWN...2

    PADIHAM finally got off the mark in goals and points but it was a tough encounter against last season's strugglers Oldham. Ian Pilkington gave the Storks a 27th minute lead before Town equalised through an own goal on 38 minute. Andy McCluskey thought

  • CLITHEROE...1 ROSSINGTON MAIN...3

    CLITHEROE were on the wrong end of an FA Cup upset as their early season form continues to baffle. Dave Burgess men were left still looking for their first win of the season after crashing out of the prestigious competition in the extra preliminary round

  • Bolton's big test

    BOLTON'S wonderful start to life back in the Premier League will be put into focus tonight when they face their biggest test of season to date. Sam Allardyce's men are due to entertain Liverpool in tonight live TV game at the Reebok with the Bolton boss

  • Parent Guide

    What next after GCSEs FOR hundreds of youngsters awaiting GCSE results this month across East Lancashire the calendar did not go beyond the morning of August 23. But life does go on, so what next? The results are the first major stepping stone which will

  • Club's maths lessons will be a class apart

    THEY go to school all year and then along come the summer holidays -- and, according to folklore, they forget everything they've just been taught. Just how do you keep your children interested in learning when they're not at school? A Blackburn woman

  • Our School. . .

    This week: Essential facts on Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn SCHOOL REPORT To help our young people to develop intellectually, physically, socially and spiritually as rounded individuals, in a supportive environment. This is one of the reasons

  • Wanderers help out Shakers

    SAM Allardyce's Wanderers have shown the kinder side of football by agreeing to play Bury in a fund-raising match. The contest takes place a week today, when neither side is in league action because of World Cup qualifying games. And Wanderers, dispelling

  • Poser over the leaky station

    WITH all the recent fuss about the leaking subway on Blackburn Station, I wonder what the position would be from a health and safety aspect if someone was walking under the subway and someone 'pulled the chain' on a train stopped over the same? G WHEATMAN

  • Ragwort 'crisis' can be solved

    REGARDING the ragwort crisis (Letters, August 21), has the debate continues has anybody considered using Nature to eradicate the problem? The beautiful red and black Cinnabar moth, one of the few daytime flying species, lays its eggs on the ragwort plant

  • Yoga for men, not strictly for the wimps

    SO Helen Mead (LET, August 21) thinks men and yoga is a marriage in hell and, by the tone of her article, strictly a pursuit for wimps. Well, that puts me in my place, though I should have seen it coming, the clues have been there for a long time. Helen

  • Injury hit RMI battle back for late winner

    Margate 1 Leigh RMI 2 by Martyn Hindley A WELL-disciplined, workmanlike performance from Leigh RMI helped them to fight back from a goal down to win at newly-promoted Margate. The reigning Dr.Martens League champions went into the game as firm bookies

  • Rovers continue Traore bid

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness will launch another bid for Liverpool defender Djimi Traore this week. Rovers chief Souness wants to bring in a new defender ahead of his side's game at Sunderland on Saturday week with Craig Short due to miss the trip through

  • Terror of victims woken by house raider

    A HOUSE breaker whose victims were terrified when they woke at night to find him in their home has been jailed for three years. Burnley Crown Court heard that heroin addict Paul Ludlam, 28, was wearing clothes he had taken from the house when he was arrested

  • Teenzones to help provide fun

    A SCHEME to keep teenagers out of trouble is all set to be launched in Burnley. Councillors are tomorrow due to give approval for the creation of Teenzones -- outdoor areas to give youngsters something to do and cut down on complaints of street corner

  • Former councillor 'a great fighter'

    A TRIBUTE to former councillor and steeplejack Maurice Tate has been paid by Burnley MP Peter Pike -- who has described him as a great fighter for the town. Mr Tate died at his home in Todmorden Road, Burnley, last Monday. He was 75. As a steeplejack

  • Pervert strikes twice in town

    A PERVERT who has been indecently exposing himself to women is believed to have struck twice in two days in Nelson. Police have confirmed they are linking the two incidents, in which a man described as Asian, in his early 20s and speaking good English

  • Schofield doubles up

    BURY conceded two late goals by Huddersfield youngster Chris Schofield to lose a game poor in quality and with little entertainment value. Shakers boss Andy Preece was furious with his side after the 2-0 defeat commenting: "We defended too deep and that

  • Keeper's tale

    CHADDERTON...2 BACUP...0 IT was a tale of two goalkeepers as Bacup keeper Adam Potts was the villain while Chadderton's shot-stopper was their hero. Potts hesitated twice to give the home side two goals through Chris Barlow (30) and Ritchie Ferguson (

  • Baxter blunder

    ALSAGER 2 COLNE 0 COLNE were made to pay for an early mistake by one of the toughest sides in the NWCL Division Two. Alsager went ahead after just three minutes when keeper Ross Baxter allowed the ball to bounce over his head and the Alsagar striker Andy

  • Victory over choice of school, but 'too late'

    COMPLAINTS by a Foulridge primary school that their pupils were being overlooked for places at Colne Park High School have been upheld. An objection was made to the Government-appointed Office of the Schools Adjudicator about the lack of places offered

  • Garden Club seeks more recruits

    ACCRINGTON Flower and Garden Club is currently looking to recruit new green-fingered members. The group meets once a month for demonstrations and presentations at the King Street Music and Sports Bar as well as making visits to garden centres and other

  • Terrified women set to take the plunge with sharks

    TWO courageous fund-raisers are taking part in a daring dive to swim with a tank full of sharks. Care team members at Derian House Children's Hospice, Chorley, Patricia Clarkson and Lisa Lord are taking up the bold quest to help raise money to revamp

  • It's lucky 13 for Clarets

    BURNLEY go into tonight's derby showdown with Manchester City looking to build on their best League start for 13 years. Three straight wins have lifted the Clarets to second in the table, trailing the only other side with a 100 per cent record Bradford

  • Chorley back in contention

    A 12-POINT victory at West Cliff put Chorley back in contention for the Northern Premier League title as leaders Netherfield faltered, taking only one point from a drawn match against Morecambe. Opening bowlers Iqbal Patel (4-25) and professional Josh

  • Solid win for Darwen

    DARWEN were comprehensive winners by 176 runs on Saturday over Blackpool in the Premier League at Birch Hall. Darwen batted first and looked to be in serious trouble at 10-2 in the sixth over before Keith Semple and Gareth Cordingley came together to

  • Cherry stay at top of tree

    CHERRY Tree extended their lead at the top of the Jennings Ribblesdale League with a 52 run victory over second placed Read yesterday. Lee Kennedy cracked 55 not out and Gary Bolton scored 44 as the Blackburn club set a target of 183-6. Naeem Ashraf took

  • Easy for Bacup

    LEAGUE leaders Bacup made easy pickings of the weekend's opponents but captain Neal Wilkinson moaned: "We still can't shake off East Lancs." The Lanehead club bowled Church out for 77 on Saturday before giving Ramsbottom, bowled for 81, more of the same

  • Venue reopens with new late licence

    DARWEN's Mill Stone Hotel reopened at the weekend with a late night surprise for revellers. The pub on the Circus has been granted a licence to serve drinks until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights. It had been closed for several weeks as workmen fitted

  • Flyer airlifted to hospital

    A HANG glider was airlifted to Rochdale General Hospital yesterday after he crashed into a hillside in Bacup. The manwho has not yet been named landed on Brown Wardle Hill and emergency services were called at 4.20pm. Police said paramedics at the scene

  • Ecstasy dealing robber handed jail term

    A DRUG dealer and robber has been jailed for a total of three years while an accomplice who took part in an attack has also been detained. Martin Thomson, 22, who supplied ecstasy to friends, had been found in possession of 22 tablets of the drug -- and

  • £100,000 cathedral sculpture unveiled to public

    ONE of the largest and most important cathedral sculptures in the country has been revealed in its full glory for the first time. The Healing of the Nations at Blackburn Cathedral., which is eight metres in diameter and weighs seven tons, was designed

  • New beds for old as hotel gets OK

    A NEW hotel is set to be built to serve the Blackburn area and replace beds lost when a landmark stop-over is demolished. Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved plans for the new development as part of a service station to be built just off the M65

  • Charity backs bonfire battle

    A CHARITY which visits pupils in Lancashire, warning of the dangers of drugs, is backing the campaign to save the Witton Park bonfire after benefiting from last year's event. Organisers are worried that this year's fire will not go ahead, prompting the

  • Health staff opt to learn self-defence

    HEALTH staff are to receive self defence lessons, after an alarming number of attacks on employees. So far this year, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust has recorded 159 physical and 132 verbal attacks on their staff. Staff responded

  • Cancer-beating drug may be mum's last hope

    A MUM of two with months to live today pleaded with health bosses to pay for a cancer-beating drug that could save her life. Michelle Hilton, 37, of Beechwood Drive, Blackburn, has been told by doctors at the Christie Hospital, Manchester,that they have

  • STAND...0 NELSON...1

    NELSON striker Jonathan Irvine scored the winner two minutes from time to make it two wins out of three for the NWCL Division Two promotion hopefuls. But Manchester Premier League champions Stand will be furious they lost after failing to take their chances

  • Harwood replay

    BRIGG TOWN...2 GT HARWOOD...2 GREAT Harwood came back twice against their bogey team Brigg Town to seal an FA Cup qualifying replay back at the Showground on Wednesday night. Harwood were knocked out of the Vase last season against North East Counties

  • ROSSENDALE UTD 0 STOCKSBRIDGE PS 0

    NEWLY promoted Rossendale Utd have yet to concede a goal in the Unibond League when highly rated Stocksbridge PS came to Dark Lane looking for a draw. Although the Steelmen played good possession football they had little punch up front, whilst Rossendale's

  • ATHERTON LR...0 RAMSBOTTOM UTD...0

    THIRTEEN bookings suggests a fierce encounter between Ramsbottom and Atherton but in truth silly challenges were the order of the day in this NWCL Division One clash. Atherton received seven and the Rams six and this took up most of the match with neither

  • Preston still search for first win

    GRIMSBY 2 PRESTON 2 PRESTON were hoping to record their first win of the First Division campaign today against Wimbledon after a controversial decision denied them all three points at Grimsby, writes DAVE HIGGERSON. Referee Richard Beeby awarded a spot-kick

  • James leaves it late

    ACCRINGTON STANLEY 3 BURSCOUGH 0 LUTEL James scored two late goals to give Accrington Stanley their first UniBond Premier Division victory of the season. The former Bury frontman, signed in the summer, opened his account for the Reds with goals in 85th

  • Magpies fight back to clinch victory

    CHORLEY...3 FARSLEY CELTIC...2 AN amazing second-half fightback enabled Chorley to overturn a two-goal half-time deficit and in the end run out comfortable winners in this UniBond First Division clash. Nothing looked less likely after Celtic had dominated