This week, with the Rev Kevin Logan, of Christ Church, Accrington SHE was a prostitute. Drink had also brought her low. A friend whispered, "Try church." "CHURCH!" the poor lass exclaimed. "Last thing I need is more condemnation." "Go on," persisted the
Drive & Stroll, with RON FREETHY THIS week I set out to stroll to BEACON COUNTRY PARK above Parbold and reached via the M6 and turning off at junction 27. I then followed the A5209 to Parbold and then up to the well-signed Ashurst Beacon car park
Self-belief and determination have led a Blackburn man along a rare career path. Actor Jaleel Akhtar talks to PAULINE HAWKINS about his journey so far. HE'S good-looking, intelligent, articulate, single . . . and he'll be in Darwen on St Valentine's Day
SCHOOLCHILDREN helped Blackburn Rovers stars support the Show Racism the Red Card Campaign at Ewood Park. And Chris McClelland, 12, from Darwen Vale High School, left the day with a Rovers shirt signed by all his heroes after winning a raffle. Rovers
THE Mayor's Charity Ball is to take place at King George's Hall next month. All monies raised will go towards the Mayor's charity for this year, Volunteer Appreciation, an organisation which highlights essential work carried out by volunteers and aims
STAFF at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, have been awarded gold certificates for their work in promoting healthy living. The staff from ward D3 and the dietetic department were presented with their awards by Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a woman victim of a serious sexual assault outside a Wigan nightclub in the early hours of Saturday morning. The 21-year-old woman was assaulted on land near the Mirage nightclub in Standish. At the time of the
TICKETS for the "Audience with Simon Garner" on Thursday, February 21, are now available from the Roverstore at Ewood Park. The proceeds of the fund-raising evening, which also features compere Graham Liver, are going towards the Coronary Care Unit at
BLACKBURN Rovers reserve team boss Alan Murray felt a lack of quality cost his side dearly as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa. After scoring four times on their two previous outings, Rovers' second string rarely looked like finding the net
A SOCCER fan who turned violent in Blackburn after being refused entry to a Burnley match has been jailed and banned from attending games next season. Michael James was one of a group of Stockport County supporters turned away from Turf Moor. Some hours
PETER Pike MP enjoyed a chance to check out the work of Burnley's Community Wardens for himself when he joined the team for a walkabout yesterday. Mr Pike was escorted by two of the wardens for a tour of Burnley Wood following a meeting at the offices
EAST Lancashire Labour MP Gordon Prentice of Pendle is opposing government plans for new "faith based" schools claiming they will increase divisions between the races and not reduce them. Earlier this week he was one of 45 government back benchers to
PUPILS at Mansfield High School in Brierfield are making friends with youngsters around the country via email. And six year 11 students have been emailing pupils in a Mexican Secondary School as part of the Partners in School Linking Initiative which
HOSPICE Care for Burnley and Pendle is hoping to coin it in with the launch of a foreign currency campaign. A revolution in European currency took place on January 1 with the introduction of the Euro to replace the traditional currency in twelve European
Manchester Camerata, Colne Municipal Hall DOUGLAS Boyd, the Camerata's Principal Conductor and Artistic Director, has brought a diverting and entertaining oboe repertoire to the orchestra. We were treated to a masterly and exciting performance, by Boyd
A HYNDBURN councillor said the delay in treating her husband who was sent home on the morning he was due to have tumour removed should not be allowed to happen again. Hospital bosses apologised to David Scaife, of Spring Street, Rishton, and blamed the
MONDAY BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst Road
Wednesday BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; The Surgery (Chiropody), 132 Lammack Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The Pharmacy,
BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst Road; Geloo Bros, Cleaver Street. To 6.45pm
A SCHOOL has put together more than 200 shoeboxes ready to be shipped off to youngsters less fortunate than themselves. Pupils of Moorland Independent School, Clitheroe, put the shoeboxes together as part of its annual appeal. The shoeboxes will be sent
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today admitted he's had to shelve plans to sign Aston Villa's Steve Stone after exhausting his Ewood transfer kitty. I can reveal the Rovers chief was pondering a move for the former England star and even watched him in action
MEMBERS of the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods in Darwen are celebrating after receiving a grant of £3,250 from the National Lottery Awards for All programme. The grant will allow the group to carry out the restoration of the drinking fountain in the woods
WATERFOOT's Royal Hotel is pinning its hopes on magistrates to grant permission for the downstairs part of the premises to be developed into a sports club. If the go-ahead is given to the join licence, under the names of joint owners mother and son Maria
ROSSENDALE romantics looking for an unusual way to say 'I love you' this Valentine's Day could try picking up Mae West's necklace as a gift -- or what about Clark Gable's cuff links? Memorabilia and music store Pride Records in Bank Street, Rawtenstall
A CHARITY boxing tournament will be held at the Astoria at Rawtenstall to help boost funds for local good causes. The matches are being organised by secretary of Sharples Boxing Club of Regent Street, Haslingden, Arthur Walsh. The club was renamed after
SWEETS, chocolates, crisps and a whole host of treats teenagers usually can't live without were off the menu for youngsters at a Rossendale school. Year nine pupils at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School in Waterfoot agreed to a 24-hour fast after an
PLANS to build a new £2.5million state-of-the-art school will cause a lot of upset in Blackburn, according to the Vicar of Ewood. The Rev Ken Howles, of St Bartholomew's Church in Bolton Road, says that plans to merge two primary schools into a new school
A MARKETING team has been launched to promote the whole of the north west as a tourist destination to visitors watching the Commonwealth Games. The 2002 North West Tourism Hub Team's brief is to make the most of the games taking place in Manchester this
FOUR men have been arrested following a Customs and Excise swoop which uncovered more than three million smuggled cigarettes. Officers discovered the haul -- with a value of around £750,000 -- in a warehouse at Abbey Village on the A675 between Blackburn
A FURIOUS mum today blasted staff at a Blackburn high school for not informing parents that a ceiling had fallen on a class. The woman, who did not wish to be named, spoke out following the incident at Queen's Park High School in Shadsworth Road. The
A COUNCIL watchdog has ordered benefits bosses to improve after it was revealed it takes 74 days, on average, to process new claims. Blackburn with Darwen Council's personal overview and scrutiny committee, which monitors the work of the council, criticised
BLACKBURN'S newest arts and theatre complex is proving a big hit, even before it has opened. Over £400,000 has been spent on transforming the Red Brick Theatre and adjoining factory premises at Ewood into a state-of-the-art venue. It is hoped that a grand
THE pupils who have had seven different maths teachers since Christmas could get after-school lessons to help them pass their GCSEs. Michael Humphreys, head teacher at Our Lady and St John School, Blackburn, has has vowed that he will not let staffing
JACK Simmons today told Lancashire members that next Friday is D-Day in the club's attempt to keep John Crawley at Old Trafford. Lancashire learned late last night -- the eve of the annual general meeting -- that the England and Wales Cricket Board's
CHORLEY Lynx don't aim to be the fall guys in the Challenge Cup's fourth round tomorrow, despite the fact that they face the French national champions. Union Treiziste Catalane, replete with a clutch of French international stars, are at Victory Park
BURY Council's new standards watchdog has already started its task of ensuring that the highest codes of conduct are maintained. The Standards Committee has the responsibility of monitoring the day-to-day operations of the council and ensuring that its
TALENTED teenagers have raised more than £1,000 for a boy struggling to beat leukaemia. Pupils from Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom joined professional acts from the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester to put on a talent show at the school. The show was
This week, with PAUL HEATHCOTE, Longridge restaurateur MEMORY: I can't think of anything before my fifth birthday. I remember blowing the candles out on my birthday cake when we lived in a cobbled street in Farnworth, Bolton. HOLIDAY: The first holiday
AS someone who started out in life in an era in which working men usually had one best suit for Sunday and working clothes for the rest of the week, I can understand why some people frown on the present consumer society. In the clothes line alone most
A BLACKBURN charity which helps drug addicts rebuild their lives and battle their addiction has appointed a new community worker to deal specifically with the Asian community. Hanis Ali is charged with dealing with drug problems and disaffection within
A CHORLEY baker was celebrating today after scooping some extra bread on the National Lottery. And lucky David Russell told how he only realised he had scooped the jackpot in Wednesday night's Camelot draw as he was about to leave home for an early morning
HUNDREDS of pupils sent home early from a Leigh high school after a fire broke out in the science block are expected to be back behind their desks on Monday. Anxious staff led the pupils to safety as Westleigh High school was evacuated and a roll call
EAST Lancashire's community leaders reacted with sadness at the news Princess Margaret had died. Leader of Lancashire County Council Hazel Harding said her death was tragic. She added: "One can only feel sympathy for the family and the friends of Princess
COMMUNITY leaders in East Lancashire today blasted Home Secretary David Blunkett for criticising arranged marriages. Members of Asian groups across the area moved to defend the practice after Mr Blunkett urged parents to stop recruiting partners from
ACADEMY chief Bobby Downes believes Rovers will have to do it the hard way if they want to lift the AXA FA Youth Cup. Rovers' young guns marched into the quarter finals on Tuesday night thanks to a magnificent 2-0 victory over current holders Arsenal
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today admitted he's had to shelve plans to sign Aston Villa's Steve Stone after exhausting his Ewood transfer kitty. I can reveal the Rovers chief was pondering a move for the former England star and even watched him in action
EWOOD chief executive John Williams is confident Rovers will sell their full allocation of tickets for the Worthington Cup final after the club reported brisk business during the opening week of sales. Rovers have been allocated just under 30,000 tickets
A SOCCER fan who turned violent in Blackburn after being refused entry to a Burnley match has been jailed and banned from attending games next season. Michael James was one of a group of Stockport County supporters turned away from Turf Moor. Some hours
A HIGH-tech approach to helping students at a Burnley high school is paying dividends for 16-year-old Charlotte Binns. Many schools operate mentor schemes which involve business people and volunteers coming into schools to provide support and encouragement
A NIGHTCLUBBER who attacked another man has escaped jail after he owned up to what what he had done. David Duke, 23, who had no previous convictions, hit victim Christopher Heys in The Works in Burnley. A judge told him his guilty plea had spared him
EAST Lancashire nightclub owners and pub landlords could face increased costs after a landmark court case abolished licence fees for door staff. Blackburn with Darwen Council today confirmed it was looking into the issue of registration fees for bouncers
RESIDENTS in Barrowford will be given the chance to voice their fears over proposals to transform the derelict Vinegar Works, in Wheatley Lane Road, into a large block of apartments and two detached houses. An application by developers Nationwide Special
THURSDAY BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohens Chemist, 63 Whalley Range; To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 6.30pm: Donald Wood Ltd, 53 Fishmoor Drive; Healthbook
FRIDAY BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst Road
LANCASHIRE county council has lifted the remaining footpath closure order and 99 per cent of Lancashire's Rights of Way are now open. But the council is warning people to make sure they know which areas are suitable for walking before they start a ramble
POLICE in the Ribble Valley have urged young people to always let their parents know their whereabouts, after they spent almost a week searching for a missing girl, who was found safe and well at a friend's house. Samantha Yates, 16, of Clitheroe disappeared
CLARETS striker Ian Moore is glad that re-arranged games come along sooner rather than later. On Tuesday Burnley travel to Millmoor to face Rotherham United in a fixture that was called off on Boxing Day due to a frozen pitch. With his father Ronnie at
THE pressure is not on the Clarets strikers - it is on everyone. Goals will secure Burnley a place in either the automatic promotion places or the play-offs and assistant manager Sam Ellis feels that all the team have to contribute in the remaining 16
CLARETS striker Ian Moore is glad that re-arranged games come along sooner rather than later. On Tuesday Burnley travel to Millmoor to face Rotherham United in a fixture that was called off on Boxing Day due to a frozen pitch. With his father Ronnie at
FORMER Bury keeper Dean Kiely says he is looking forward to the challenge of facing up to Manchester United on Sunday, and refuses to be dismissive of Charlton's chances. "We've shown that we can lift our game when we play a big club with results against
THE Teeny Group based at Earcroft Community Base is to have a change of day and venue from February 21 to accommodate growing numbers. The Teeny group, for children aged five to 10, will meet at Hollins Grove Congregational Church, Hawkshaw Avenue on
COMPANY bosses who met at a Rossendale business to discuss restructuring would not say whether any jobs will go. There are rumours that between 15 and 35 jobs may go at J B Broadley's factory in Burnley Road, Reedsholme, as part of a restructuring exercise
THERE'S only one way to travel if you're an adventurous ape - monkey-business class! And that's precisely how Monkey Matthews spends most of his time as he lays claim to being the travelling champ of East Lancashire. Or should that be chimp? When Monkey
COLLEGE managers have expressed delight at the exam successes achieved by students during the last year. Hundreds of full-time, part-time, mature and young students from across the North West donned their caps and gowns for Blackburn College's awards
COMMUNITY leaders in East Lancashire today blasted Home Secretary David Blunkett for criticising arranged marriages. Members of Asian groups across the area moved to defend the practice after Mr Blunkett urged parents to stop recruiting partners from
