I AM sure you all know of Jim Bowen and I'll bet most of you listen to his radio programme and have seen him on TV. Well, Jim and I go back a long, long way. When I first knew him he wasn't Jim Bowen, he was Jimmy Whittaker PE and sports master, a teacher
Alsager...0, Ramsbottom United...0 THIS was a game which Ramsbottom should have won and with better finishing they would have undoubtedly done so. Defending against a strong wind in the first half it was Ramsbottom who carved out the first chance, neat
WHEN I read your article (LET, September 11), I thought you had started a new comedy section on page three, I realised in fact it was meant to be a serious statement from our councillors on their future plans for Blackburn. The phrase 'meaningless gobbledegook
THE report headlined 'A Farce' (LET, September 14) leaves me feeling sad and disillusioned with some leaders of society. A 21-year-old, unemployed Blackburn male, who already owes the state 'more than £330' and is committed to repaying that amount at
A SPECIAL party will be held to officially mark the launch of Prestwich Police Station to the community. After many years of wishing and campaigning for the police station to be relocated from the southern end of Bury New Road to the centre of Prestwich
PRESTWICH barman Jahn Hanson provided the right "mix" of talent and knowledge when he won the regional final of the TGI Friday's Bar Team Challenge on Monday. The 27-year-old, who works at the Bury New Road branch of TGI Friday's in Prestwich, beat off
A 22-year-old waitress is being tipped for the top after she was overheard singing in a restaurant kitchen. Lauren Jackson, from Whitefield, got her fairytale break while working at La Cappanina in Sunnybank. Singer Jo David was one of the customers eating
SMILING killer Gareth Horton poses for the camera at a New Year's Eve party -- an hour later he stabbed to death defenceless Charlotte Flanagan. The picture of the 6ft 8ins loner was taken at the Barley Mow pub in London, where his friend and victim had
PRESTWICH adult education centre could be closed and its students moved into the town's library. Town hall bosses are considering making the switch to comply with new laws to make access easier for disabled people. But they say the changes could be good
Leigh RMI v Hereford preview by Martyn Hindley LEIGH manager Steve Waywell says that the disappointments at Morecambe has only made his side more determined to keep their place in the Conference. RMI were beaten by a controverisal goal in the fourth-minute
BLACKBURN Rovers' two Academy sides slipped straight back into the groove with a couple of thumping victories over Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend. After both sides suffered their first defeats of the season last week, the pressure was on to get straight
ENGLAND new-boy David Thompson today set his sights on providing the cure to Sven Goran Eriksson's biggest headache after celebrating a shock international call-up last night. Eriksson has spent the last two years searching for the answer to a problem
THREE new community wardens are set to take to the streets in the areas hit by last year's riots thanks to £500,000 of European cash. The community warden service, which began a year ago, already employs 12 wardens in other areas of the town. The new
A POPULAR Burnley magician has returned from a magical world event in Las Vegas ready to conjure up some work in his home town. Matt Wright has given up his bar manager role at his family's pub the Reedley Hallows, Burnley, to take up work as a full-time
A LONG-TIME criminal, who stole from a blind pensioner in a late-night raid on her home, is behind bars for six years. Christopher Ormerod Sears, 39, confronted the 86-year-old woman in her bedroom. He claimed her door had been open and that he had gone
THE organiser of a charity fun day, cancelled at short notice, today dismissed rumours he had deceived local people. The event, due to be held on Sunday at the recreation ground behind Carter Avenue, Hapton, was advertised by organiser Paul Robinson as
THE St John's Church Christmas Fayre will be held this year on Saturday, November 16, from 11.30am to 2pm. Wellyphant, Fireman Sam and Postman Pat will be in attendance as well as Father Christmas. Admission is free, lunches will be on sale and there
BURY fans who want to relive last Wednesday's dramatic Worthington Cup second round victory over Bolton Wanderers can do so in the Bury FC Social Club tonight. A video of the full 96 minutes can be seen on a big screen at the club commencing 8pm. Admission
BURY boss Andy Preece has scotched rumours that the Shakers are about to sign former Manchester City defender Andy Morrison. The experienced centre half who has seen action with Plymouth Argyle, Blackpool and Huddersfield Town before joining City has
WALKERS strapped on their boots for a good cause at the weekend, when a sponsored walk took place from St Thomas' Church on Saturday to raise money for church funds. The group set off from the church and walked along the canal to Barden Mill before returning
YOUTH and community services in Pendle could suffer if more people are not recruited soon. The Lancashire Youth and Community Service in Pendle, a service provided by the county's education department, has struggled to recruit from adverts and bosses
A WOMAN aged 88 is recovering today after a thief snatched her handbag, containing cash and personal belongings, as she walked in Hollinhurst Road, Radcliffe. He pulled up beside her in a white saloon car at 10.30am yesterday before jumping out and grabbing
A ROBBER jailed for three and a half years has had his total prison term cut so he will only have to serve half instead of two-thirds. Christopher Mather, 26, had earlier been ordered by Judge Barbara Watson to serve the 168 days unexpired from a previous
A PROPOSED housing development in Colne could be given the go-ahead this week after planning officers put it forward for approval. McDermott Developments Ltd has applied to develop almost one hectare of existing residential land at Hillcrest and to the
FIFTY friends and relatives gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of Colne great-grandmother Katherine Frankland. Mrs Frankland, who lives in Bent Lane, was taken to JJs Restaurant in Colne to celebrate her milestone birthday and received many cards
TICKETS for the Rovers should carry a health warning at present. Those suffering from health problems or who are of a nervous disposition would be well advised to steer well clear. Frustrating doesn't even begin to describe it. During the last campaign
A COUPLE celebrated their Golden Anniversary, and half a century of hard work, with their large family. Marie, 70, and Victor Driver, of Wordsworth Close, Great Harwood, staged a party at Checco's restaurant in their home town and invited, among others
FORMER Claret Paul Gascoigne is being linked with the vacant manager's position at third division Exeter City. But former Clarets boss Adrian Heath is today out of a job as one of the casualties following the dismissal of Peter Reid as Sunderland manager
CLARETS Under-16 keeper Michael Hale made his debut for the youth side against Blackpool at the weekend as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Gawthorpe in the Youth Alliance League. The youngster was forced to play because of a groin injury suffered by James
BURNLEY Football Club reluctantly voted to accept an offer from Carlton and Granada to screen highlights of matches, despite the two companies' role in the collapse of the ITV Digital deal. Clarets chairman Barry Kilby admitted: "At the end of the day
ST Joseph's Players latest production, Cats Cradle, is a mystery thriller by Leslie Sands being staged from Tuesday-Saturday at St Joseph's Hall, Chapel Street in Leigh. The plot of Cat's Cradle revolves around an almost forgotten kidnapping and -- perhaps
WHEN marathon man Steven Higginbottom takes to the streets for his evening training, daughter Lauren certainly isn't left in the dark. For the 22-month-old girl likes nothing better than to accompany her dad in her three-wheel pram, complete with its
BURNLEY Football Club reluctantly voted to accept an offer from Carlton and Granada to screen highlights of matches, despite the two companies' role in the collapse of the ITV Digital deal. Clarets chairman Barry Kilby admitted: "At the end of the day
BELEAGUERED Ramsbottom United have suffered another blow with the news that manager Mike Kelly has resigned. Kelly relinquished team affairs after Saturday's 0-0 draw at Alsager and experienced midfielder Andy Grimshaw is in the hotseat for United's North
COLLEAGUES of the man accused of murdering Charlotte Flanagan were stunned and shocked when they were told he had been arrested, a court heard. In a statement read out on behalf of Blackburn with Darwen social services manager Jane Clough, an Old Bailey
AN evening of free business advice for local proprietors is being held in Bacup tonight. A range of business support providers will be in attendance at the event, which is to be held at Bacup Leisure Hall from 4pm until 8pm tonight. Organised by Bacup
THE chief executive of the troubled Lancashire holiday giant MyTravel, Tim Byrne, stepped down today after a disastrous week which saw more than £200 million wiped off the value of the company. In a statement to the Stock Exchange, the company, more commonly
Glyn Garner...6 Matt Barrass...7 Danny Swailes...6 Michael Nelson...7 Lee Unsworth...6 Chris Billy...6 Martyn Forrest...6 Pawel Abbott...6 Terry Dunfield...6 Colin Woodthorpe...6 Jon Newby...7 Subs: Stuart (for Swailes, 46) 7; Seddon (for Barrass, 76)
Radcliffe Borough...0 Eastwood Town...1: RADCLIFFE Borough tumbled out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle as their season-long problem raised its ugly head again at Stainton Park on Saturday. Boro seemed to have come up with a cure for their goal drought
Bury...1 Southend Utd...3: THERE was always a worry that Bury would suffer a hangover from Wednesday night's Worthington Cup heroics at the Reebok -- it took just over an hour to kick in writes Phil Thorp After going 1-0 up inside the first three minutes
MORE than 8,400 people have voted with their computer keys to make a success of an experiment in democracy. They have clicked to watch two live webcasts of meetings of Lancashire County Council's Cabinet. Four web cameras, complete with sound equipment
A DIRECTOR of a security firm has appeared before Blackburn magistrates, charged with wounding during an incident outside a club. And defence solicitor Basharat Ditta has repeated a police plea for witnesses to come forward so that a full picture of the
TEENAGERS are being encouraged to end the growing 'drama' on East Lancashire's roads with a safe driving play staged in their schools. 'Legal Weapon' aims to change attitudes which caused the deaths of 13 young drivers in the county last year and injuries
A SERIES of nationwide conferences to highlight domestic violence in Asian communities was launched yesterday in East Lancashire. The event, What are the particular challenges to tackling domestic violence in Asian Communities?, has been organised by
A BLIND man who was too scared to return to his home after a harrowing stabbing attack has been re-homed. Graham Jones has been offered a property close to his mother and brother by Salford-based housing association SPACE. The 43-year-old felt too vulnerable
TOWN centre shop TJ Hughes has been fined £3,000 after staff sold two "15" classified videos to a 10-year-old boy. Trading Standards officers used the child to make the test purchase at the discount department store company's Blackburn shop. The town's
A COMMUNITY today launched a campaign to save a doctor's surgery after its 2,000 patients were transferred to another practice. Dr C K Rao, in Lincoln Close, Blackburn, is retiring due to ill health and the Primary Care Trust has not yet replaced him.
A BOY who attended school just five-and-a-half days in the last academic year has turned the tables and has now not missed a day this term. Michael Cocker risked seeing his mother sent to jail for aggravated truancy, which would have made her only the
ARTIST Ian Randall finally brought his sculptures to town yesterday with a promise they would "bring the feel-good factor back to Blackburn". Ian was on hand to oversee the installation of three of his five "Transition" pieces, which symbolise the growth
IN JUST a year Burnley's George Connor has risen from novice to having a shot at a national crown. On Saturday Connor and his horse Hamilton The Second compete in the Heavyweight Cob section at the Horse Of The Year Show at Birmingham's NEC. And for Connor
SHOKAT Ali missed his chance of a place in the last 16 of the LG Cup at the Guild Hall in Preston when he was whitewashed by Alan McManus 5-0 yesterday afternoon. The Blackburn snooker star admitted the miss of an easy red while clear in the first frame
UNFORTUNATELY two penalty decisions went against us to end Accrington Stanley's winning run. The first was awarded against us in the home match with Wakefield and Emley when Barry Shuttleworth was adjudged to have handled the ball when actually it struck
CRAIG Brown was hoping for a bit of good luck this weekend. Instead, not only did he get a draw (again) but he witnessed a ridiculous sending off of one striker and a horror injury to the other. It was Graham Alexander's penalty on 39 minutes which gave
A MAN aged 29 was due to appear before magistrates today accused of trying to rape a 77-year-old pensioner. Jason Anthony Hargreaves, of no fixed address, was arrested by detectives in Bury just hours after the alleged attempted rape at 7am yesterday.
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Women's Aglow Christian Fellowship, Accrington Town Hall, 7.30pm. Speaker: N Simpson. All women welcome. Blackburn Drama Club present "Sense and Sensibility,' Darwen
PUT back on the agenda in recent weeks by a strong pro-lobby mainly made up of health professionals, the ever-controversial issue of fluoridation of local water supplies to improve dental health was cranked up again today as another East Lancashire health
RADCLIFFE Swimming Club chairman Sabina Carr won six events at the North Eastern Counties Masters swimming championships in Scarborough. She set new championship best times in the 50 metres and 100 metres butterfly for her age group as well as winning
FORMER Smiths frontman and leading pop figure Morrissey has announced he is to play in Blackburn next month. Tickets for the gig at King George's Hall on Saturday, November 2 go on sale at 12noon today. With The Smiths, Morrissey produced some of the
A MAN with a previous conviction for stealing from his employer was trusted with a company credit card when he joined a Clayton-le-Moors firm as a delivery driver. Blackburn magistrates heard that less than two months after starting work for Draystar,
PUPILS have planted the seeds of success in their playground garden which was runner-up in the "Green Finger's Challenge" national competition. Judges were impressed by the garden's range of cabbages, lettuces, potatoes, herbs, chilli plants, strawberries
MORE than 8,400 people have voted with their computer keys to make a success of an experiment in democracy. They have clicked to watch two live webcasts of meetings of Lancashire County Council's Cabinet. Four web cameras, complete with sound equipment
REGARDING Eileen Bridge's complaint that Hyndburn Labour councillors were reneging on their commitment to oppose care home closures (Letters, September 24), it is true that many made promises in the May elections on this subject. But it is now September
REGARDING your article, "Right of appeal for clearance order residents" (LET, September 16), Councillor Rafique Malik implies, along with many of the ruling Labour group, that the 4,000 to 5,000 surplus homes in Burnley are responsible for the town's
PUPILS from Tottington High School have stepped into the garden of Eden. The youngsters were the proud winners of a project entitled A Challenge from Cornwall, organised by the Bolton and Bury Education Business Partnership. All entrants for the competition
AN 88-year-old woman suffered a fractured hip when a robber knocked her to the ground for £20. Police are appealing for witnesses to the mugging in Colville Drive, Bury, on Saturday afternoon (Oct 5). Irene Fitton, of Fusiliers Court, was walking home
A PRESTWICH-based private hire firm is in the fast lane to becoming the biggest operator in North Manchester following the acquisition of a rival company. Magnum Private Hire has bought out Whitefield-based Whiteline Taxis for an undisclosed sum. The
A FATHER and his two sons have been cleared of the murder of a relative after new evidence came to light. Mr Abdul Raja Qayyum, 62, died on Saturday, March 30, this year after a family argument at his home in Halifax Road, Brierfield. Now his brother-in-law
BLACKBURN Rovers face a Battle of Britain showdown with Celtic in the second round of the UEFA Cup. Today's draw in Geneva paired the two British giants together in a mouthwatering two-legged clash. And that means Rovers boss Graeme Souness faces a hot
A DELIGHTED David Thompson today thanked Graeme Souness for rescuing his career as he celebrated his shock call-up to the full England squad. Thompson fulfilled a boyhood dream when he was drafted in to Sven Goran Eriksson's squad for the first time last
GRAEME Souness has made some shrewd additions during his time as Blackburn manager. Brad Friedel's recruitment from Liverpool on a free, Henning Berg's return from Manchester United in a cut-price £1.75 swoop, and the club record purchase of Andy Cole
A KIDNAPPED hippo has helped raise cash to send a Burnley youngster abroad for pioneering treatment. Harry the Hippo, the mascot of Briercliffe Beds, was held to ransom in a bid to raise £500 to send youngster Jamie Graham to Hungary. The five-year-old
A COUNCILLOR today called for immediate action after it was revealed spelling errors on timetables at Burnley's new multi-million pound bus station were still there -- more than a month after the facility opened. Bosses were left red faced after the errors
CLAIMS that Asian people accused of violence during last the Burnley riots were protecting their community have been dismissed as "an excuse". Preston Crown Court heard that Asians carrying sticks, machetes and even a sword were not defending themselves
A HEALTH trust could soon add its voice to the lobby pushing for the fluoridation of local water supplies. The controversial move aimed at stopping the rot in children's teeth comes as a survey shows 12-year-olds in the area have some of the worst tooth
A FATHER and his two sons have been cleared of the murder of a relative after new evidence came to light. Mr Abdul Raja Qayyum, 62, died on Saturday, March 30, this year after a family argument at his home in Halifax Road, Brierfield. Now his brother-in-law
ANDY Preece has put the onus on his fringe players to lift Bury's form after the disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Southend. The performance was a far cry from last week's Worthington Cup heroics at Bolton and the Shakers supremo reckons his established
YOU could almost taste the tension in the air at a packed Bury FC Social Club on Saturday afternoon writes Phil Thorp The draw for the third round of the Worthington Cup was being made and with four balls remaining neither Bury nor Manchester United had
A KNIFEMAN allegedly kidnapped his former partner, drove off at high speed and later threw her out into the road, a jury was told. Burnley Crown Court heard how spurned Peter Ashdown's panic-stricken victim Catherine Burrows, had tried to escape from
THE first phase of a £1.2 million refurbishment has been unveiled at Edge End High School. It is the first major repair work carried out at the original 1933 Nelson Technical High School building since it was built. 10 classrooms have been refurbished
COUNCILLORS gave their backing to a firm's long running battle to transform two mill lodges. Caird Environmental won backing from Hyndburn development services committee for its plans for land adjoining Broad Oak Industrial Estate.
A GLIDING school based in Samlesbury swooped on top honours for the fourth year running after training the more young pilots than any other air cadet unit. RAF 635 Voluntary Gliding School was ranked number one out of 28 schools and trained 4,000 cadets
POLICE are warning women and children not to walk alone in isolated areas after a teenager on a bike indecently exposed himself to a woman. The victim was walking along a canal towpath in Clayton-le-Moors when a youth, aged 14 to 17, exposed himself.
A FORMER footballer from Clayton-le-Moors was one of the first people in country to benefit from a new health scheme which allows patients to beat long waiting lists. Former Accrington Stanley player Russell Cuddihy was offered the chance to have his
A PLANNING application that could mark a change in the way Hyndburn Council responds to agricultural applications is set to be considered this week. Coun Tim O'Kane urged planners to be more farmer friendly when considering applications to replace unsightly
LIBRARIES are usually quiet places but when Naomi Schrecker paid a visit to the Prestwich branch, the entire room was made to sit up and take notice. Special-needs teacher Mrs Schrecker was outraged to discover that the Longfield Centre branch did not
THE body of JJB Sports chief executive Duncan Sharpe has been found hanging from a tree in a secluded part of the Ribble Valley. The 43-year-old, of Waddington, is the son-in-law of JJB owner and former Blackburn Rovers player Dave Whelan. He was found
CLARETS boss Stan Ternent reflected on the sacking of his old pal Peter Reid by Sunderland and claimed: "They'll do extremely well to get a better manager than him." And as he did for Brian Flynn when he was dismissed by Wrexham last season, Ternent has
A RANGE of stalls will be set up at a Whitefield church to raise money for breast cancer research. The team at the Cancer Research UK Shop in Bury New Road, Prestwich, are holding a Breast Cancer Awareness Month event on Saturday, October 12, between
BLACKBURN Rovers face a Battle of Britain showdown with Celtic in the second round of the UEFA Cup. Today's draw in Geneva paired the two British giants together in a mouthwatering two-legged clash. And that means Rovers boss Graeme Souness faces a hot
RICHARD CRESSWELL was hoping to return to action today in training following Saturday's horror challenge at Valley Parade. The Preston hitman was stretchered off at full time after apparently being bundled into the hoardings by Gus Uhlenbeek. He appeared
THOUSANDS of pounds could be raised for the Lancashire Evening Telegrqaph Magic Eye Appeal with an antiques roadshow. Staff at the Belgrave Antiques Centre, Bolton Road, Darwen, have persuaded contacts to donate hundreds of items for an auction. Every
DARWEN has said goodbye to former Technical School headteacher Howard Peters at a special memorial service. Mr Peters, died aged 89 in July in Southampton where he had moved in 2000 following almost 50 years in Darwen. His funeral took place in Southampton
SMILING killer Gareth Horton poses for the camera at a New Year's Eve party -- an hour later he stabbed to death defenceless Charlotte Flanagan. The picture of the 6ft 8ins loner was taken at the Barley Mow pub in London, where his friend and victim had
A NEW housing estate has been given the go ahead in Darwen. Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved the building of 112 homes on a site at Marsh House Lane. The nine-and-a-half acre site will be the biggest in Bolton building firm's Hargreaves Homes
DARWEN'S most active criminals are being targeted in a police operation to make the town safer. Around 20 suspects will be watched over the next month after a similar scheme last Wednesday resulted in three arrests. Officers have identified the three
A MASKED raider who allegedly held up two off-licences in one night later confessed all when working on a man's house, a jury was told. Craig Garside, 31, helped himself to cash to the tune of more than £150 from Booze Busters in Bank Street, Rawtenstall
A YOUNG firefighter has been honoured with two bravery awards during the first two years of his career. Lee Ferguson, 25, of Croft Close, Rawtenstall, will be commended for trying to save a three-year-old boy who died in a house fire and for his role
A COMPANY has been fined after it "shopped" itself for an offence. And the action cost Akzo Nobel £4,574 in fines and costs when the case was dealt with by Blackburn magistrates. The court heard that the company had bought two second-hand 52,000 litre
SENIOR police officers from East Lancashire are helping to crack down on child pornography using information passed on by the FBI in America. Lancashire Police have set up an investigating team at their Hutton headquarters as part of a national inquiry
LANCASHIRE CC have signed Mal Loye to boost their batting line-up for next season. The 30-year-old right-hander follows the trail blazed by Alec Swann, who had such a successful debut season after moving from Northamptonshire last winter. And Loye arrives
GREAT HARWOOD are through to the next round of the Worthington Trophy after a first round victory over Ashton last night. John Hughes's side battled hard against a physical Ashton and had the game wrapped up by half-time thanks to goals from Glen Smith
BILL Whitehead, former captain of the Bury Schoolboys XI, has signed as part-time professional for Bury. He has been assisting the club as an amateur since he left school three years ago and is showing great promise as a right half. Last Saturday he was
A KIRKHAM woman is to appear before Blackpool Magistrates charged with manslaughter after a four-year-old girl drowned in a Blackpool school swimming pool last year. Pauline Mills, 53, of Marsh View, Newton near Kirkham will appear before magistrates
AN emergency meeting is being held on Thursday (Oct 10) over Bury's old folks homes controversy. Opposition councillors are unhappy with the way the council has closed one home and is trying to shut others. They have taken the rare step of "calling in
